{"id":44247,"date":"2019-03-07T01:30:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-07T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/news\/capitol-live-experts-examine-economic-impacts-of-budget\/"},"modified":"2019-03-07T14:27:59","modified_gmt":"2019-03-07T23:27:59","slug":"capitol-live-experts-examine-economic-impacts-of-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/news\/capitol-live-experts-examine-economic-impacts-of-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"Capitol Live: Timeline ‘aggressive’ for finding ferry consultant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t

2:08 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Bringing in a consultant will cost between $60,000 and $90,000, acccording to this presentation. Holland says this will come out of the AMHS operating budget. McLaren says this year will be “very tight” for the marine highway in terms of its budget.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

— Alex McCarthy<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

2:05 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Another part of the plan for the AMHS is to bring in a consultant to develop a new plan for the future of the ferry system. Holland shows what she calls an “aggressive” timeline for bringing that consultant in. The project went out for bid March 1 and consultants have until March 11 to apply, according to this presentation.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Hughes says she’s curious about this short timeline. Holland says they’ve already talked with three interested parties and the governor’s administration “felt the aggressive timeline could still result in receipt of a qualified bid. They want to get moving as quickly as possible.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

The timeline shows that the consultant’s final report would be due July 31 of this year.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

— Alex McCarthy<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

1:45 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

We’re at the second Alaska Marine Highway System meeting of the day. Office of Management and Budget Management Director Amanda Holland and AMHS Business Enterprise and Development Manager Matt McLaren are speaking to the Senate Transportation Committee.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

As you know, Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget proposal would cut the ferry system’s budget by 75 percent in the next fiscal year. As Committee Chair Sen. Shelley Hughes says at the beginning of this meeting, the ferry system would “cease as we know it” as a result.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Related, from Senate Finance earlier:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Guettabi says, will there be out-migration? (as a result of the Dunleavy budget)
Sen. Bert Stedman "Not by the Marine Highway"
*laughter*
Stedmans says he couldn't resist#akleg<\/a><\/p>— Kevin Baird (@alaska_kev) March 7, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>\n