Call to Order and Roll Call
The second meeting of the Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government, Finance, and Public Protection of the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue was held on Monday, November 17, 2014, at 10:00 AM, in Room 129 of the Capitol Annex. Senator Christian McDaniel, Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Senator Christian McDaniel, Co-Chair; Representatives Mike Denham, Adam Koenig, Tom McKee, Brad Montell, Tanya Pullin, Steve Riggs, Tom Riner, and Wilson Stone.
Guests: Steve Rucker, Deputy Secretary, Finance and Administration Cabinet; Mike Hayden, Next Generation Kentucky Information Highway Program Director, Finance and Administration Cabinet; Tony Wilder, Commissioner, Department for Local Government; Amy Barnes, Branch Manager, Coal Development Branch, Department for Local Government; and, Wendy Thompson, Internal Policy Analyst, Coal Development Branch, Department for Local Government.
LRC Staff: Frank Willey, Katie Comstock, Perry Papka, and Marlene Rutherford.
Next Generation Kentucky Information Highway
Steve Rucker and Mike Hayden testified about the Next Generation Kentucky Information Highway.
In response to a question from Representative Pullin, Mr. Rucker said fiber optics would be government-owned and are projected to last 30 to 40 years.
In response to questions from Representative Denham, Mr. Rucker said rural areas would have enhanced broadband capability within three years and that prices should be driven down by competition in the market.
In response to questions from Representative Stone, Mr. Rucker said financing the service varies in each regional area, on a county-by-county basis.
In response to a question from Representative Riggs, Mr. Hayden said broadband requirements for education are higher than that of government.
Chairman McDaniel commented on the parallel comparison of the information highway with the highway system.
In response to a question from Representative Montell, Mr. Hayden said the ability to expand the bandwidth of fiber is practically infinite.
In response to questions from Representative McKee, Mr. Hayden said the evolution of the network would continue.
Chairman McDaniel called for a motion to approve the minutes of the August 28, 2014 meeting. A motion was made by Representative Stone, seconded by Representative McKee, and the minutes were approved without objection.
Coal Severance Funds
Commissioner Wilder testified about the Coal Severance Program.
In response to a question from Representative Denham, Commissioner Wilder said there is no accurate way to affect an increase in the percentage of coal ton miles traveled per county.
In response to a question from Representative Montell, Ms. Barnes said there are 36 total coal producing counties in Kentucky, with the majority being in the east.
In response to a question from Representative Riggs, Ms. Barnes said the funds would apply to any form of transportation. Commissioner Wilder said no funds had been spent on river ports to his knowledge.
In response to a question from Representative Koenig, Commissioner Wilder said it was departmental policy to set the priorities.
There being no further business before the subcommittee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:16 AM.