Tech-Talkin’ Governors: The State of the State and Budget Addresses

Editor’s Note: During the next few weeks, nearly every Governor will present a State of the State and/or budget address outlining new initiatives or priorities for the upcoming year. In the past, SSTI has compiled excerpts relevant to tech-based economic development for publication. This year we will highlight significant proposals in the SSTI Weekly Digest and provide links to the actual speech, related background, press releases, etc. Large or innovative developments will be given separate attention in the Digest.



Addresses and budget items of note for tech-based economic development so far:



Alaska

Governor Tony Knowles, FY 2002 Governor’s Operating Budget Request, Dec. 15, 2000

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/2002site/Budget/DCED/2002_DCEDcover.html

Income from the science and technology endowment is anticipated to be $10.5 million for FY 2002, down $1 million from the FY 2001 authorization. As a result, the Governor is requesting $10 million for the Alaska Science & Technology Foundation, $1 million less than FY `01. Legislative earmarks and previous obligations leave a balance for grants of only $5 million for FY `02, compared to $8-9 million in FY `01.



Georgia

Governor Roy E. Barnes, Remarks on the FY2001 Supplemental Budget request, January 3, 2001

– new funding recommendations 

http://www.ganet.org/governor/speech/press.cgi

• $36.3 million in additional funds for the HOPE scholarship program in Georgia’s public and technical colleges and $5.4 million for students who choose to attend private colleges in Georgia.
• $38.8 million of tobacco settlement funds for the Georgia Cancer Coalition, including funds to create the first Cancer Center of Excellence

Minnesota

Governor Jesse Ventura, State of the State Address, January 4, 2001

– new proposals

http://www.governor.state.mn.us/

• Approach education, workforce development and economic development with a single strategy, beginning with the consolidation of the Department of Economic Security and the Department of Trade and Economic Development.
• The Governor announced he will submit proposals to the legislature this month to invest in technology commercialization between Minnesota's business community and the University of Minnesota.

New York

Governor George E. Pataki, State-of-the-State Address, January 3, 2001

– new proposals

http://www.state.ny.us/sos2001text.html

• $283 million over five years to establish several university-based Centers of Excellence (see related story in this issue)
• a three-part plan to assist the state's manufacturing sector, including: elimination of taxes manufacturers pay on payroll and property; elimination of the Alternative Minimum Tax; and increased investment in technical workforce development and training.
• double the size of certain Empire Zones across upstate New York -- from two-square miles to four.
  Alaska