Budget
RSSGovernment budgets, spending, taxes, and fiscal policy
TrendingNewMost Read
House rejects Galena school funding swap after dramatic rescind vote
The Alaska House of Representatives narrowly rejected an amendment to redirect $5 million from a Galena school renovation to Anchorage and Mat-Su projects after a dramatic rescind vote brought the measure back for reconsideration.
by Alaska News12h ago3 min readJuneau, Alaska3 viewsAI
House panel hears gas line tax bill with 15-cent volumetric fee
The House Finance Committee heard testimony Thursday on House Bill 381, which would replace traditional property taxes on the Alaska LNG pipeline with a 15-cent per thousand cubic feet volumetric tax, generating an estimated $577 million by 2033 while giving municipalities decision-making authority over gas treatment plants and LNG facilities.
by Alaska News15h ago4 min readJuneau, Alaska1 viewAI
House Finance Hears Sharp Divide Over $95M for West Susitna Road
The House Finance Committee heard nearly two hours of testimony on a $95 million appropriation for the West Susitna Access Road, with opponents calling it a subsidy for foreign mining companies and supporters arguing it would unlock economic development.
by Alaska News6d ago4 min readAlaska, USA12 viewsAI
House Finance Advances Paid Parental Leave Bill
The Alaska House Finance Committee voted 7-4 to advance a paid parental leave bill that would create a new payroll tax and provide up to 12 weeks of benefits, despite warnings the fund could be depleted by 2040 and concerns about small business exemptions creating legal vulnerabilities.
by Alaska News4d ago4 min readJuneau6 viewsAI
Senate Finance exempts emergency management from contract payment rules
The Senate Finance Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that exempts Alaska's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management from new state contract payment requirements, giving emergency responders flexibility during disasters.
by Alaska News4d ago2 min readJuneau, Alaska3 viewsAI
House Finance cuts West Susitna road funding from capital budget
The House Finance Committee adopted a $2.5 billion capital budget that removes $94 million in federal receipt authority for the West Susitna Access Road project, sparking partisan debate over resource development priorities.
by Alaska News1w ago3 min readAlaska13 viewsAI
Alaska House Passes Required Local Contribution Cap for Schools
The Alaska House adopted an amendment capping annual growth in required local property tax contributions to schools at 2%, shifting an estimated $29 million in education costs from municipalities to the state.
by Alaska News5d ago5 min readJuneau, Alaska3 viewsAI
Alaska House panel hears push to raise tobacco age to 21, tax vapes at 25%
The House Finance Committee heard testimony Monday on Senate Bill 24, which would raise Alaska's legal tobacco purchase age from 19 to 21 and impose a 25% retail price tax on vapor products, drawing support from public health advocates and opposition from retailers who warn the tax structure could fuel illicit markets.
by Alaska News5d ago4 min readJuneau3 viewsAI
Alaska Legislature Forms Conference Committee on $14B Operating Budget
Six lawmakers convened Monday to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of Alaska's fiscal year 2027 operating and mental health budgets, adopting identical items and requesting limited negotiating powers.
by Alaska News5d ago2 min readJuneau, Alaska3 viewsAI
House Finance hears divided testimony on $95M West Susitna road allocation
The House Finance Committee heard sharply divided public testimony on a proposed $95 million appropriation for the West Susitna Access Road, with rural residents and environmental advocates opposing what they called a mining subsidy while Mat-Su officials championed it as essential infrastructure.
by Alaska News6d ago5 min readAlaska, USA2 viewsAI
Senate Finance advances pension bill with municipal opt-in provision
The Senate Finance Committee voted 5-2 to advance a bill restoring defined benefit pensions for public employees after adopting an amendment allowing municipalities to opt in rather than being automatically enrolled.
by Alaska News6d ago5 min readSenate Finance2 viewsAI
Alaska House panel considers doubling bulk fuel loan cap amid price crisis
The House Finance Committee heard testimony Tuesday on legislation to raise the maximum bulk fuel loan from $750,000 to $1.5 million as rural communities face doubled fuel prices and supply shortages.
by Alaska News1w ago3 min readJuneau, Alaska5 viewsAI
Alaska House Weighs $113M Education Funding Overhaul
House Finance Committee debates education funding bill using three-year enrollment averaging to provide budget certainty, but faces questions about $113 million fiscal note and lack of long-term modeling.
by Alaska News2w ago2 min readHouse Finance7 viewsAI
Senate panel approves $485 million Department of Revenue budget
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the Department of Revenue forwarded a $485.1 million budget recommendation to the full Finance Committee, including new auditor positions and rejecting structural changes to the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation.
by Alaska News1w ago2 min readAlaska4 viewsAI
Borough proposes $580K budget with new staff, building upgrades
The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly reviewed the FY 2027 budget proposal, which includes adding a construction management position, transitioning to electric heating, and planning ADA accessibility improvements to the borough building entrance.
by Alaska News2w ago3 min readKodiak, AK, USA7 viewsAI
Alaska Energy Authority seeks public comment on Intertie budget by June 2
The Alaska Energy Authority is seeking public input on the Alaska Intertie's fiscal year 2027 budget through June 2, 2026.
by Alaska News1w ago1 min read813 West Northern Lights Blvd., Anchorage, Alaska4 viewsAI
House Finance cuts paid parental leave to 12 weeks, reduces benefits to $524
Alaska House Finance Committee amended paid parental leave legislation to reduce maximum leave from 26 to 12 weeks and cut weekly benefits from $817 to $524, while exempting businesses with fewer than 25 employees.
by Alaska News1w ago4 min readJuneau, Alaska2 viewsAI
House Finance Advances Education Funding Bill Despite Fiscal Concerns
The Alaska House Finance Committee narrowly advanced HB 261, an education funding reform bill using three-year student count averaging, after rejecting amendments to mandate averaging for special needs students and cap administrative spending at 15 percent.
by Alaska News1w ago4 min readJuneau, Alaska3 viewsAI
Senate panel cuts jail funding in half, seeks out-of-state inmate housing
The Senate Finance Department of Corrections Subcommittee cut House-approved community jail funding by half and requested information on housing Alaska inmates outside the state while advancing a $535 million corrections budget.
by Alaska News3w ago2 min readAlaska8 viewsAI
House panel questions education fund proposal with no guaranteed revenue
Alaska House Finance Committee members raised concerns about a constitutional amendment that would create an education fund without any dedicated funding source or protections against future legislatures spending it down to zero.
by Alaska News2w ago3 min readAlaska6 viewsAI
Senate minority outlines pension reform, gas line concerns at press conference
Alaska Senate minority members discussed pension reform amendments, gas line project challenges, and legislative priorities at a Thursday press conference.
by Alaska News6d ago5 min readAlaska1 viewAI
Alaska House Finance Rejects Cemetery, School, Energy Amendments
The House Finance Committee rejected multiple capital budget amendments Friday, including funding for an Eagle River cemetery, Galena school repairs, Arctic Winter Games, and the West Susitna Access Road, citing budget constraints despite acknowledging merit in the proposals.
by Alaska News6d ago4 min readJuneau, Alaska1 viewAI
Senate panel advances $349 million administration budget
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the Department of Administration forwarded a $349.4 million operating budget recommendation to the full Finance Committee, rejecting proposed decentralization of payroll and shared services.
by Alaska News3w ago2 min readAlaska6 viewsAI
Senate Finance subcommittee recommends $1.17 billion university budget
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on the University of Alaska recommended a $1.17 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2027, including partial funding for student recruitment and employee compensation increases.
by Alaska News1w ago2 min readAlaska2 viewsAI
House Finance advances education fund amendment, rejects gas pipeline revenue tie
The House Finance Committee passed a constitutional amendment creating a public education fund 8-3 but rejected linking it to future gas pipeline revenues.
by Alaska News1w ago2 min readAlaska2 viewsAI
Senate adds $156M to capital budget, prioritizes deferred maintenance
The Alaska Senate added $156 million to the governor's lean capital budget, directing most new spending toward deferred maintenance at K-12 schools, universities, and state facilities following an uptick in oil revenue.
by Alaska News1w ago5 min read2 viewsAI
Senate Finance advances $2.8B operating budget to Rules Committee
The Alaska Senate Finance Committee unanimously moved the state's operating budget forward on April 30, clearing its final committee hurdle before floor consideration.
by Alaska News2w ago2 min readJuneau, AK, USA3 viewsAI
Eagle Crest faces $1.68M subsidy request or severe cuts
Eagle Crest Ski Area presented three budget scenarios to the Assembly Finance Committee, revealing that operating at the historical $930,000 subsidy level would require 56% staff cuts and eliminate operational resilience, while a bare-minimum viable operation requires $1.68 million in taxpayer support.
by Alaska News2w ago3 min readJuneau, AK, USA3 viewsAI
State's $2.9B Reserve Fund Ranks Second Highest Nationally
Alaska's budget reserve fund of $2.9 billion ranks as the second highest among all U.S. states according to analysis presented to the Senate Finance Committee.
by Alaska News1mo ago2 min readSenate Finance7 viewsAI
Education Fund Amendment Advances With Key Questions Unresolved
The House Finance Committee heard testimony on a constitutional amendment to create a dedicated education fund, but critical details about what qualifies as public education, how money would enter the fund, and whether the legislature could dissolve it remain undefined.
by Alaska News2w ago4 min readHouse Finance2 viewsAI
Alaska House panel hears bill to overhaul school funding timelines
The House Finance Committee heard testimony on HB 261, which would allow districts to use three-year average student counts instead of single-year October counts to set budgets months earlier and offer teacher contracts in spring rather than summer.
by Alaska News2w ago4 min readAlaska2 viewsAI
Alaska releases FY25 Single Audit after closed-door review
The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee unanimously approved the release of Alaska's FY25 Single Audit on April 22, 2026, following an executive session to discuss the annual federal financial review.
by Alaska News2w ago1 min readAlaska, USA2 viewsAI
Hundreds pack Juneau Assembly meeting to oppose recreation facility cuts
Juneau residents filled a special Assembly meeting to testify against proposed budget cuts to pools, field house, ice arena, and Eagle Crest ski area, with many families warning closures would drive them from the city.
by Alaska News2w ago4 min readJuneau, AK, USA2 viewsAI
Senate panel advances behavioral health crisis surcharge bill
The Senate Finance Committee advanced a bill establishing a surcharge to fund behavioral health crisis services after adding exemptions for low-income phone users.
by Alaska News1w ago1 min readState Capitol1 viewAI
House Finance hears $8.4M in governor's budget amendments
The House Finance Committee heard presentations on two batches of budget amendments totaling $8.4 million in unrestricted general funds, including union contracts and transportation project allocations.
by Alaska News2w ago8 min readHouse Finance2 viewsAI
Senate Finance adopts $13.8B budget with $150 energy payments, school grants
The Senate Finance Committee adopted a $13.83 billion operating budget that includes $150 per person energy relief payments and up to $100 million in one-time grants to school districts, while maintaining a $50 million reserve by budgeting at $73 per barrel oil.
by Alaska News3w ago4 min readState Capitol, Juneau, Alaska2 viewsAI
Senate Finance hears tax modernization bill, sets aside for further review
The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on House Bill 280, which would shift Alaska's corporate income tax apportionment from cost-based to market-based sourcing, but took no action on the measure.
by Alaska News3w ago3 min readSenate2 viewsAI
Senate panel approves $139.2 million budget for Department of Law
The Senate Finance Department of Law Subcommittee approved the fiscal year 2027 operating budget for the Department of Law totaling $139.2 million.
by Alaska News3w ago2 min readJuneau, Alaska2 viewsAI
Senate cuts House domestic violence funding additions in half
The Senate Finance Subcommittee reduced House additions for domestic violence and sexual assault programs by 50 percent while approving a $357 million Department of Public Safety budget.
by Alaska News3w ago2 min readAlaska2 viewsAI
Senate panel approves $441 million education budget with teacher incentives
The Senate Finance Subcommittee on Education and Early Development approved a $441 million budget for fiscal year 2027 that includes new funding for teacher incentives and Head Start matching grants while reducing spending on boarding homes and residential schools.
by Alaska News3w ago2 min readAlaska2 viewsAI