Gov. Sean Parnell announced Thursday he'll include $100 million in his capital budget to help address a massive $1.8 billion backlog of maintenance on government buildings, other infrastructure and University of Alaska facilities.
He said planning for maintenance is responsible, and will fuel Alaska's economy with "hammer-ready" construction jobs small businesses can count on.
Parnell stepped into the state's top job in July, and is running for the office in 2010. He promised on Thursday to include $100 million for maintenance not only in the budget due in December, but also in each of the next five years.
Parnell's budget proposal is due Dec. 15, about a month before the state Legislature convenes in Juneau.
In a press conference on Thursday morning, Parnell said taking care of the state's existing infrastructure "makes sense."
"Until now, we have not, as a state, had a predictable deferred maintenance plan," he said.
Instead, agencies have taken a piecemeal approach, asking lawmakers for bits here and there to address mounting repairs and upgrades even as they petition for funds for new infrastructure.
Two major components of the state's backlog are University of Alaska buildings and Department of Transportation and Public Facilities infrastructure -- including guardrails, bridges and the like.
The university system alone has more than 400 buildings worth $2.6 billion, with a backlog of about $900 million in maintenance, UA Public Affairs Director Kate Ripley said. Per Parnell's plan, about $37 million of the $100 million allocated each year would go to the university.
That falls short of the university's $50 million goal, but is still tremendous, Ripley said. Better yet, the $37 million is predictable. During the last decade the university received an average $16 million per year -- some years almost $50 million, some years next to nothing.
"It would be absolutely fabulous, and it would go a long way toward getting a handle on deferred maintenance across the system," Ripley said.
The Department of Transportation's backlog runs about $400 million, and includes ferry system and airport needs, he said.
But Parnell won't be the one wading through the lists of needs and deciding priorities. He said each entity already has its priorities laid out, and noted that lawmakers will likely want to weigh in as well.
University of Alaska Chancellor Fran Ulmer lauded Parnell's leadership at the press conference.
"We know that we have been losing ground over the last several decades in being able to maintain our facilities," Ulmer said, acknowledging the university asks the Legislature each year for funds, but is often turned down.
"Legislators want to introduce capital budgets that add facilities in their districts," she said. "It's appropriate for the governor to take the lead on deferred maintenance."
Contact Rena Delbridge at rena_alaskadispatch.com.