Thanks to Anchorage Legislature for Fighting to Fund MOA Legislative Priorities

Posted: 4/20/12

I want to thank Anchorage Legislators for securing over $377 million for Anchorage in the 2013 capital budget.   The projects this year focus on basic infrastructure and public safety along with Project 80s facility upgrades.

Leading the list was the infrastructure and transportation priority receiving $98.5M for the Port of Anchorage, a significant increase over last year’s funding. This will allow the revised expansion project to continue moving forward.

Key general fund projects for Anchorage include (all numbers are rounded):

Public Safety:

• $700,000 Replacement of Fire Engines
• $2M Land Acquisition for Future Fire Stations
• $500,000 Indoor Range Targeting System Upgrades
• $3.8M APD Expansion Phase I Outdoor Secure Storage
• $1.7M Southcentral Law Enforcement Tactical Range-Phase II
• $2.6M Police In-Car Video/License Plate Recognition Project-Phase II

Parks and Recreation:

• $1M Tony Knowles Coastal Trail Surface and Safety Improvements
• $4M South Anchorage Sports Park Facility

Additional Projects: 

• $4M Ship Creek Access Improvements-North C Street to Dam-Phase II
• $5M Sullivan Arena Parking Lot Expansion and Building Upgrades
• $1.8M Loussac Library Repairs, Upgrades, Modernization.

The process of identifying Anchorage’s legislative priorities began in August, and the mayor and his staff met with members of the Anchorage Caucus to discuss the city’s needs.

Local community councils and organizations also submitted their priorities. Each project was vetted for need, and scrutinized by the mayor and his executive team.

A list of priority projects resulted, and a formal legislative program was submitted to and approved by the Anchorage Assembly on November 18, 2011.