Assigned to COM & APPROPS                                                                                   FOR COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2606

 

appropriation; railroad museum

 

Purpose

 

Appropriates $500,000 in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 from the state general fund to provide matching monies for the Arizona State Railroad Museum.

 

Background

 

The mission of the Arizona State Railroad Museum is to collect, preserve, interpret and exhibit historic and cultural artifacts relating to the railroad history, development and heritage of Arizona.  The $3.3 million site will be located in Williams, Arizona on 15 acres of yet-to-be donated land, east of the Grand Canyon Railway.  The Museum will have approximately 106,500 square feet of covered area to house displays, archives, meeting rooms, an auditorium and staff offices.  The Arizona State Railroad Museum Foundation predicts that local, county and state governments will derive $3.3 to $ 6 million in annual revenues due to the increased visitation created by the Museum.  The Foundation also states that all revenues will be directed to debt service for the $15 million in tax exempt construction bonds, reinvestment in the Museum for capital improvements and investment in community improvements through grants.

 

The Foundation has raised approximately $681,000 in bonds, grants and donations to date.  However, the Foundation indicates that difficulties still persist with raising the necessary start-up funds for the site.  The Foundation states that the requested funding will allow them to secure the 15 acres of land and the $15 million in bond constructions.  These coupled with the requested funding will allow them to initiate the planning process with construction beginning at the end of the year. 

 

H.B. 2606 appropriates $500,000 in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 from the state general fund to the Department of Commerce (DOC) to match donations for an Arizona State Railroad Museum.

 

 

Provisions

 

1.      Appropriates $500,000 in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 from the state general fund to DOC to provide matching monies from the private sector for the Arizona State Railroad Museum.

 

 

 

 

 

2.      Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.

 

3.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

House Action

 

CED                 2/19/01   DPA            9-0-0-1

APPROP          3/1/3/01  DPA            8-2-0-6

3rd Read            3/19/01                        42-13-5-0

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

March 21, 2001