redirect the $326,900 Draper land sale to convert the Women's Facility for Forensics.
The motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Sen. Dmitrich moved to approve the Intent Language Item #11 on page 7 to use the proceeds from the Decker Lake land exchange for the new Youth Corrections
center, with the amendment "to be applied".
The motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Rep. Walsh moved to approve the Intent Language Item #12 on page 7 to add the canteen in the Forensics project at the State Hospital at $336,000.
The motion passed unanimously.
The analyst explained the Bond Bill - FY 1999 need for intent language on page 7.
MOTION: Sen. Blackham moved to approve the Intent Language for the Bond Bill - FY 1999 General Application on page 7 to fund some former lease revenue bonds with
General Obligation bonds and redirect rent payments to Debt Service.
Reps. Murray, Short, Adair, Walsh, and Goodfellow and Sens. Buhler and Blackham discussed
the motion.
The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Massey noted that the next four items on pages 7 and 8 pertained to Lease Revenue Bonds
and would be better considered after the Capital Budget would be approved.
The committee moved on to the five items which are requested to be built with federal or private
funds on state-owned properties in Other Intent Language on page 9. Sen. Blackham raised the
concern that the funding be in place before legislative authorization be given. Mr. Massey noted
that the representation that had been made to the legislative fiscal analyst is that the non-state
funding is in place. Kenneth Nye, DAS DCFM Finance/Real Estate Prog, responded to the
members' concerns.
MOTION: Sen. Blackham moved to approve the Intent Language Item #8 on page 9 for the CEU San Juan Arts and Conference Center, with the additional language "The
project is subject to availability of total project costs from non-state funded sources."
The motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Rep. Pace moved to approve the Intent Language Item #5 on page 9 for the USU - American West Heritage Center.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Sen. Blackham moved to approve the Intent Language for Items 5, 6, 7, and 9 on page 9 with the clarifying language "The project is subject to
availability of total project costs from non-state funding sources." added to each item.
The substitute motion passed with Rep. Short voting against.
The Higher Education Revenue Bonds were introduced and Mr. Massey explained that this
committee has been asked to make a recommendation on these to the Executive Appropriations
Committee. Sen. Blackham asked for clarification on Item 15, the U of U Health Sciences
Facilities, and Tom Nycum, U of U, responded. Reps. Short and Walsh and Sen. Buhler
discussed these revenue bonds.
MOTION: Sen. Buhler moved to approve the Higher Education Revenue Bonds for Items 10 through 16, including the U of U Student Housing for $86,000,000, U of U
Student Housing - Olympic Revenues for $22,500,000, U of U Health Sciences Parking
Structure for $12,000,000, U of U South West Campus Parking Structure for $6,500,000,
U of U Eccles Broadcast Center for $5,100,000, and U of U Health Sciences Facilities for
$23,300,000; and WSU Student Housing for $19,000,000.
The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Massey requested the members to approve the Funding Adjustments on page 11.
MOTION: Sen. Dmitrich moved to approve the Funding Adjustments related to last years' Sevier Valley ATC funding as explained on page 11.
The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Massey explained the need for the members to approve the process of allowing the office of
the legislative fiscal analyst to make technical corrections in the intent language drafted and
approved by the committee as necessary. These are also subject to the review of the legislative
research and general counsel.
MOTION: Sen. Buhler moved to allow the office of the legislative fiscal analyst to make any technical and grammatical changes that would become necessary in the intent
language approved by the subcommittee.
The motion passed unanimously.
The proposed Capital Budget list was distributed.
MOTION: Sen. Buhler moved to approve the proposed Capital Budget list, which included $46,061,900 General Funds, $21,500,000 Uniform School Funds, $78,957,200
General Obligation bonding, $3,505,800 Federal Funds, $2,118,900 Transportation
Funds, and $686,300 from land sales and redirection of previous project funding.
Sen. Buhler explained the rationale for the proposed list, noting that designed projects were to be
completed the following years. It was also noted that the recommendations exceeded the
$20,000,000 General Obligation bond. Sen. Blackham spoke for the proposed list. Sen. Buhler
noted that the State Capitol Building and Dixie College land purchase were not on the list and
explained why. Rep. Short discussed the purpose of the list which recommends a $79 million
General Obligation bond. Comments were taken from each committee member individually.
Rep. Short made what he called his annual speech about giving the money for the projects and
then building to the appropriation amounts; he thought we should look at this list as
representatives of the taxpayers and he was concerned that the caucuses would not accept this
list. Rep. Adair requested that each member comment about the proposed list. Rep. Bowman
supported the list, especially the SUU PE building and land purchase. Rep. Murray supported
Rep. Short's concerns, but he felt that the arguments for the list were persuasive. Rep. Becker
supported the list because of the need to invest in state buildings for the future. Rep. Pace felt
that some buildings that were not on the list were more critical than those on the list, but she
didn't have any great opposition to those on the list. Sen. Blackham commended the members
for the list this year which addresses the needs of the state, especially as relates to Corrections,
which will raise the ante on the General Obligation bonds. He noted that if the two big projects
and Corrections were removed from the list, the members were right on target, and he
commended Rep. Short for his concerns on the costs. Rep. Goodfellow noted that Utah has the
AAA bond rating because we pay for our buildings almost pay-as-we-go. He supported the
moving of revenue bonds to General Obligation bonds for the best rate. Sen. Dmitrich thought
the list was fair and he wished that Dixie College land purchase was also on the list. He also
commented that $1 million should be moved from the transportation buildings to repair Highway
6. Rep. Walsh raised the concerns of costs and said he would like time to look at trimming costs.
Rep. Short wanted to hear the response from the legislative leaders, and he felt that Youth
Corrections should build at least 40-bed facilities for the same cost as 32-bed facilities. He also
noted the inflation costs in the SUU building original request and other concerns as well. Sen.
Buhler commented on reallocating the funding on the capital budget list, but that the totals would
not change. Rep. Adair explained that the list can be fine-tuned, he noted that because the bond
rate is 4.07%, it can be rationalized that it will be cheaper to build these projects now. He
commended Sen. Buhler for his work on the committee this year to make the process better. Mr.
Massey clarified the federal funds for Corrections.
The motion passed with Reps. Short and Walsh voting against.
In other committee business, Mr. Massey suggested that the committee consider intent language
relative to the request for the dynamometer in the Sevier Valley ATC and also a formal motion
will be needed to repeal the bond last year for the Women's Facility.
MOTION: Sen. Blackham moved to repeal the part of the Bond Bill - FY 1998 funding the new Women's Correctional Facility.
The motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Sen. Blackham moved to identify a funding source to appropriate $300,000 for the map digitizing program, but it was not to be part of the formal subcommittee
recommendation. .
The motion passed unanimously.
Rep. Adair adjourned the meeting at 3:30 p.m.
The minutes were reported by Susy Carter.
Sen. David L. Buhler Rep. Gerry A. Adair
Committee Co-Chair Committee Co-Chair