Assembly overrides library veto

Anchorage Daily News / adn.com

Published: December 15th, 2009 10:25 PM
Last Modified: December 15th, 2009 10:25 PM

The Anchorage Assembly Tuesday night mustered the eight votes needed to override Mayor Dan Sullivan's veto of an extra $50,000 intended to extend operating hours at the Eagle River and Girdwood branch libraries. Sullivan had agreed to add back $75,000 for library materials in a compromise budget approved by the Assembly last week. But he drew the line at another $50,000 for libraries, and also vetoed $125,000 in additional money for grants to arts and cultural groups.

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The Assembly tried to override the grants veto, too, but failed.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sullivan announced vetoes of two items in the capital improvements projects budget also approved last week -- $3.2 million for storm drain improvements at Pine Street and Fourth Avenue in East Anchorage, and about $250,000 for a Sand Lake ambulance.

Sullivan said he backs both projects, but not this year. The fire department won't have the personnel or the money to operate another ambulance in 2010, he said, adding that bonding for the Pine Street improvements would have put too many bonds on the spring ballot. Sullivan said he wants to ask voters for no more than $40 million in roads and drainage bonds in April.

An attempt to override the ambulance veto also failed. But Sullivan and East Anchorage Assemblywoman Sheila Selkregg seemed to be working toward a compromise that would keep the storm drain work in the 2010 budget.