Post by ferryfast admin on Mar 3, 2006 22:44:40 GMT -5
State lawmakers ponder support of municipal harbors
Measure would establish grant program for dock repairs
JUNEAU EMPIRE
juneauempire.com/
Aging harbors around the state - many sorely in need of repairs and major maintenance - could see an influx of money under a bill moving through the Alaska House.
The measure, sponsored by Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, would establish a Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program.
The bill recommends the Legislature appropriate revenues from the watercraft fuel tax account and fisheries business tax, better known as the raw fish tax, to fund the program. The two accounts totaled a combined $15 million in 2005.
Although the revenues are destined for the state's general fund - the state constitution prohibits the dedication of state taxes - Thomas says the recommendation creates a logical connection.
"By identifying the funds, it actually goes back to the people who pay into it through the marine fuel tax and raw fish tax," said Thomas.
Officials with the state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities say one option is to fund the program at $10 million for the next 10 years to cover the list of needs around the state.
The bill also requires that municipalities applying for grants provide 50 percent of the total project cost.
Juneau Port Director John Stone said harbors statewide need $100 million worth of maintenance, while Juneau needs $17 million for upgrades.
The city would provide the matching funds necessary to receive the grants, Stone said.
Stone is president of the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators.
"We've been working on this for a number of years," he said.
"We're quite thankful the Legislature is taking this action," he said.
Alaska's harbor infrastructure was largely built by the state DOT/PF in the 1960s and 1970s, but for more than a decade the state has been transferring its ownership of the facilities to municipalities.
Although most transfers included money for repairs and maintenance, communities complained that the amount fell far short of what they needed to fix the dilapidated facilities and keep pace with the needs of today's harbor users.
In testimony before the House Community and Regional Affairs on Tuesday, Valdez Port Director and Harbormaster Alan Sorum said many communities are overwhelmed with the prospect of repairing their harbors.
"It took a few years for them to realize the scope and magnitude of what they needed to do to restore these important facilities," he said. "Another issue is the increased cost of construction."
Sorum and others from the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators say many communities have raised user fees substantially to help with harbor replacement costs but found that is not enough.
Sitka Assembly member John Holst said his city is considering doubling moorage rates over five years to help pay for two major harbor projects.
But he fears if those rates increase too fast, local fishermen will be forced to give up their slots and those will be taken over by boat owners from out-of-state areas where the moorage fees are even higher.
"It could have the impact of displacing our fishing fleet by boats from down south and that's a huge long-term problem for us and we certainly don't want to see that," he said.
Harbormasters say their facilities are important economic engines for coastal communities that depend on fishing and tourism.
The bill was moved out of committee and will be heard next in the House Finance Committee.
The bill is House Bill 478.
• Juneau Empire reporter Andrew Petty contributed to this story.
Measure would establish grant program for dock repairs
JUNEAU EMPIRE
juneauempire.com/
Aging harbors around the state - many sorely in need of repairs and major maintenance - could see an influx of money under a bill moving through the Alaska House.
The measure, sponsored by Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, would establish a Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program.
The bill recommends the Legislature appropriate revenues from the watercraft fuel tax account and fisheries business tax, better known as the raw fish tax, to fund the program. The two accounts totaled a combined $15 million in 2005.
Although the revenues are destined for the state's general fund - the state constitution prohibits the dedication of state taxes - Thomas says the recommendation creates a logical connection.
"By identifying the funds, it actually goes back to the people who pay into it through the marine fuel tax and raw fish tax," said Thomas.
Officials with the state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities say one option is to fund the program at $10 million for the next 10 years to cover the list of needs around the state.
The bill also requires that municipalities applying for grants provide 50 percent of the total project cost.
Juneau Port Director John Stone said harbors statewide need $100 million worth of maintenance, while Juneau needs $17 million for upgrades.
The city would provide the matching funds necessary to receive the grants, Stone said.
Stone is president of the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators.
"We've been working on this for a number of years," he said.
"We're quite thankful the Legislature is taking this action," he said.
Alaska's harbor infrastructure was largely built by the state DOT/PF in the 1960s and 1970s, but for more than a decade the state has been transferring its ownership of the facilities to municipalities.
Although most transfers included money for repairs and maintenance, communities complained that the amount fell far short of what they needed to fix the dilapidated facilities and keep pace with the needs of today's harbor users.
In testimony before the House Community and Regional Affairs on Tuesday, Valdez Port Director and Harbormaster Alan Sorum said many communities are overwhelmed with the prospect of repairing their harbors.
"It took a few years for them to realize the scope and magnitude of what they needed to do to restore these important facilities," he said. "Another issue is the increased cost of construction."
Sorum and others from the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators say many communities have raised user fees substantially to help with harbor replacement costs but found that is not enough.
Sitka Assembly member John Holst said his city is considering doubling moorage rates over five years to help pay for two major harbor projects.
But he fears if those rates increase too fast, local fishermen will be forced to give up their slots and those will be taken over by boat owners from out-of-state areas where the moorage fees are even higher.
"It could have the impact of displacing our fishing fleet by boats from down south and that's a huge long-term problem for us and we certainly don't want to see that," he said.
Harbormasters say their facilities are important economic engines for coastal communities that depend on fishing and tourism.
The bill was moved out of committee and will be heard next in the House Finance Committee.
The bill is House Bill 478.
• Juneau Empire reporter Andrew Petty contributed to this story.