Finance.

• Author: Rose, David
• Position: 2006 Alaska forecast - Alaska Housing Finance Corp. - Government spending - Brief Article - Column

We expect heightened activity in the importation of money for capital projects in 2006. Here in Anchorage, funds will be raised ($100 million) for the new Anchorage Convention Center. Additionally, we expect to see additional funds raised for utility development. Alaska Housing Finance Corp. can be expected to continue issuing bonds for ongoing housing and the Alaska Railroad is progressing toward raising funds for rail and economic associated projects.

Part of the huge state surplus can be used as reserves to lever additional financing in AIDEA for economic development and the Municipal Bond Bank for roads, schools and other public projects.

Federally appropriated transportation funds, coupled with large state surpluses of oil revenue, will result in increased state budgets for both operations and infrastructure development. Anchorage will spend federal port appropriations on its...