78.0°

Sound off on the important issues at

"We've certainly done more than our share for roads, airports and harbors," said Sen. Lyda Green, R-Wasilla, just before the Senate roll call.

The capital budget, which now goes to the House floor, includes massive general fund appropriations for multimillion-dollar projects, such as $45 million for the Juneau access project connecting the capital by road to a ferry terminal on the Katzehin River. Controversy over particular line items did not affect anyone's vote on the bill.

Sen. Kim Elton, D-Juneau, a critic of the Juneau access project, said he wasn't happy about all of the elements of the capital budget, but "on the whole, it was tasty enough to swallow."

The capital budget includes $628 million in general fund expenditures, $1.3 billion in federal dollars and $457 million in other money.

The capital budget could grow even larger in the House, where legislators are considering additional expenditures. One line item they may consider reinserting is $300,000 for a new, integrated facility at Salmon Creek for the Juneau Family Birth Center.

Elton said he was most disappointed that the budget package, Senate Bill 231, did not include money for the state to proceed with a second bridge for Gastineau Channel. The project is a high priority for the city of Juneau.

Though the budget bill got a unanimous vote, Sen. Gary Wilken, R-Fairbanks, put in a request for reconsideration.

Wilken attempted unsuccessfully during Wednesday's floor session to allocate $182 million from the state's Constitutional Budget Reserve for the Power Cost Equalization (PCE) program in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. The PCE program pays a portion of the utility bills for rural Alaskans hit by high fuel costs. The capital budget bill allocates the $182 million in PCE funding from the state's general fund.

Wilken's amendment was defeated 12-8. Wilken may or may not offer another amendment, he said.

Wilken said he was surprised his effort didn't get more support. "I thought perhaps the minority might want to reconsider that," he said.

• Elizabeth Bluemink can be reached at elizabeth.bluemink@juneauempire.com.