The capital budget is out of the State Senate, and funding for Unalaska’s major projects hasn’t been slashed.

The Senate bill includes $4.1 million for the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant, a top priority for the city. Gov. Sean Parnell had only recommended $3.1 million for that project this year. The plant is expected to cost $16 million, and the city already received $4 million from the state for it last year.

Additionally, the Senate has approved funding upgrades to the Robert Storrs small boat harbor in the amount of $1.8 million. They have also allocated $5 million in federal funding to the construction of a chemical storage building and $9 million to airport improvements. Also included in the Senate budget is $2.4 million for dry dock maintenance of the P/V Woldstad.

Sen. Lyman Hoffman represents Unalaska and is the co-chair of the Senate finance committee, and he says that legislators were particularly supportive of the town’s request for money to construct a new wastewater treatment plant. The City of Unalaksa recently settled a lawsuit with the Environmental Protection Agency over Clean Water Act violations involving its current plant, and other Alaskan communities have looked to the situation as a test case for regulations that could affect them down the road.

“I think it would have been a financial burden for Unalaska, and Unalaska is at the upper end of being able to pay for projects in the districts,” says Hoffman. “It would put a financial burden on just about any other community that might have to do it, so it’s pretty important.”

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives before being sent to the Office of the Governor.