Budget
RSSBudget in Alaska is the mix of state operating and capital spending, municipal budgets, and school district finances. It covers property tax caps, bond propositions, revenue shortfalls, and reserve draws affecting schools, cities, and state agencies. Also called the state budget or budget shortfall.
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Week of Jun 8
Fairbanks spur line language added to Alaska LNG tax bill
Fairbanks North Star Borough secured a requirement for a gas spur line in the state LNG tax bill. Developers must build the spur to access tax breaks. Costs will spread across Railbelt users to keep rates affordable for 3500 local customers.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Anchorage's alcohol tax can't fund everything it was promised to fund — and a board meeting Tuesday made the tradeoff explicit
Anchorage alcohol tax revenue is dropping to 5.2 million dollars for 2027. • The city must now choose between funding school preschools or emergency homelessness services. • School district preschools face potential cuts while the district manages a 90 million dollar budget gap. • Childcare providers are also asking for a share of the limited funds.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Enstar faces 2033 supply gap as Hilcorp contract expires, no Cook Inlet producer can match drilling scale
Enstar Natural Gas loses its main Cook Inlet gas supplier in 2033 when Hilcorp's contract expires, and no other producer can match Hilcorp's drilling scale, leaving Southcentral facing a supply gap unless a North Slope pipeline delivers gas by then.
by Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Same committee, same day, two close votes on Alaska LNG ratepayer protection — and they didn't go the same way
House Finance can't quite decide how much to protect Alaska ratepayers from LNG cost overruns — Tuesday's two votes split, with the same person providing the swing both times.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
ENSTAR Caps the Price. Stedman Eyes the Debt.
ENSTAR is locking in a $16 price ceiling, but Sen. Bert Stedman argued the costs may have just moved upstream, to the tune of $3.3 billion over 30 years.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Juneau Assembly raises vehicle sales tax cap to $50,000
Juneau Assembly voted 6-3 to raise the vehicle sales tax cap to $50,000, allowing the city to collect more tax on car purchases as it works to close a $10 million to $12 million budget gap.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
The Air Force wants $7 billion for fighter recapitalization at Elmendorf — but Alaska's military investments are riding on a partisan bill senators don't think will pass
The Air Force requested $7 billion for fighter jets at Elmendorf-Richardson in its 2027 budget, but half the F-35 funding and other Alaska-critical spending is routed through a partisan bill that Republican and Democratic senators say will not pass.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
The Air Force wants a $338.8 billion budget — a 34% jump that includes a 130% Space Force boost that flows to Clear
Air Force seeks $338.8 billion for fiscal 2027, a 34 percent increase with Space Force funding up 130 percent. • Clear Space Force Station in interior Alaska could receive part of the $71.1 billion Space Force request. • Funding also targets facility upgrades at JBER and Eielson Air Force Base, addressing a $50 billion maintenance backlog.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
More from Budget
House Finance writes a $16 gas-price cap into Alaska LNG bill — even if Enstar's contract isn't signed
Alaska House Finance voted 6-5 Monday to write a $16-per-MMBtu price cap for natural gas into the state's Alaska LNG tax bill, protecting consumers even if Enstar's contract with the developer remains unsigned.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
House Finance amendment lets pipeline-route municipalities bill Alaska LNG directly — skipping the state appropriation step
House Finance approved an amendment allowing pipeline-route municipalities to bill the Alaska LNG operator directly for their tax share instead of waiting for state appropriation.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
All three major North Slope producers have signed Alaska LNG Phase 1 sale agreements — and they want their ownership to stop at the lease line
All three major North Slope producers have signed Alaska LNG Phase 1 sale agreements — and they want their ownership to stop at the lease line
by Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Department of Revenue presents Senate Finance with Alaska LNG breakeven modeling across cost and tax scenarios
Alaska LNG needs $9.07 per thousand cubic feet to break even under current law, or $10.69 if capital costs reach $60 billion. • Senate Bill 2001 would lower those breakeven prices to $8.54 and $9.97 respectively, but reduce state revenue from North Slope gas. • Department of Revenue presented the modeling to help Senate Finance evaluate the tax restructuring tradeoff.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Department of Revenue presents Senate Finance with 25-scenario sensitivity analysis on Alaska LNG fiscal impact
Department of Revenue modeled Alaska LNG's fiscal impact under SB 2001 across 25 scenarios through 2062. • Baseline scenario projects $29 billion in net state revenue gains. • Worst-case scenario with $100 per barrel oil and major production losses would cost the state $16.2 billion.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Week of Jun 1
Sullivan and Murkowski split on DACA funding votes
Sen. Dan Sullivan and Sen. Lisa Murkowski split on two DACA funding amendments in Senate votes June 4 and 5, with Murkowski voting yes and Sullivan voting no on both measures, which both failed.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago1 min read
North Slope has two fields cleared for gas sales, AOGCC tells Senate
Alaska's oil regulator told lawmakers that only Prudhoe Bay and Point Thomson fields have approval to supply gas to the Alaska LNG project, which aims to start deliveries in 2029.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Alaska LNG seeks 90% property tax cut; Kenai Peninsula pushes back
Alaska LNG is seeking a 90 percent property tax cut to proceed, but Kenai Peninsula Borough says the cut would cost local governments about $30 million annually needed to cover project impacts.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Coming up
Kodiak Island Borough School District: Board of Education Regular Meeting
KIBSD Central Office Conference Room F140, 722 Mill Bay Road, Kodiak, Alaska 99615
Meeting
Juneau Assembly Regular Meeting
Meeting
Anchorage Assembly 2027 Budget Hearing Closing and Vote
Hearing
Anchorage Assembly Vote on 2027 Capital Budget
Meeting
Anchorage FY27 Budget and CASA Capital Improvement Plan Adoption
Meeting
About Budget
Budget in Alaska takes in state operating and capital spending, municipal budgets and the finances of school districts, the University of Alaska and public corporations. It covers how governments raise money and decide what to fund each year.
Revenue comes from oil royalties and taxes, Permanent Fund earnings, property and sales taxes and bonds, and oil prices can decide whether contingent state projects go ahead. Cities and boroughs set mill rates, draw on reserves to cover shortfalls and rank projects for state and federal requests.
Recurring questions include school funding gaps, the size of bond requests put to voters, which capital projects make a list, and how many police and fire positions a budget can carry. Budget connects closely to government and the Permanent Fund.
More from Budget
ASD projects $40M FY28 deficit — two months after voters rejected school bond and tax levy
Anchorage School District projects a $40 million deficit for fiscal year 2028 on top of $90 million in earlier cuts, after voters rejected a $12 million tax levy and $79 million bond in April.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Ketchikan awards $2.74M city hall HVAC contract, taps reserves
Ketchikan City Council voted 4-3 to spend $2.74 million replacing city hall's HVAC system using reserves and deferred street projects. • One council member opposed the spending, citing residents losing power and leaving town due to rising costs. • The HVAC units are over 20 years old and no longer meet code.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Ketchikan postpones cruise-dock expansion for one year
Ketchikan City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to delay a $290,000 design contract for expanding Berth 1 at the cruise dock, citing community concerns about ship volume and the need to repair existing docks first.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
State wins option to buy 25% of Alaska LNG after investors commit
Alaska secured the right to buy up to 25% of the Alaska LNG project after private investors commit, with six months to decide whether to invest between $230 million and $1.16 billion.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Glenfarne's own cost estimate for Alaska LNG is now significantly higher than AGDC's — and the state's equity option sits in the middle of the new math
Glenfarne raised Alaska LNG cost estimate to 44.5 to 54.5 billion dollars, up from state agency's 38.7 billion. • Legislature can buy 5 to 25 percent equity stake within 180 days after final investment decision. • Property tax reform is central to project financing, with current rates costing roughly 380 million dollars yearly during construction.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Juneau gets clean audit despite control gaps, three-month delay
Juneau's audit passed but arrived three months late due to hospital delays and staff turnover, with auditors flagging two control gaps in debt review and harbor leases that finance staff have begun fixing.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Kenai adopts $42.1M budget with swim team grant, airport upgrade
Kenai City Council adopted a $42.1 million budget for fiscal year 2027, approving $296,402 in amendments for a swim team grant, airport billing automation expected to recover $130,000 in missed revenue, and council chambers technology upgrades.
by Lucas Brown5mo ago1 min read
Kenai limits tent camping to 2 tents per property, defines 3+ as campground
Kenai allows up to two tents on private property indefinitely, but three or more tents now require conditional-use approval and are classified as a campground.
by Lucas Brown5mo ago2 min read
Cordova holds property tax rate flat at 11.44 mills for 2026
Cordova City Council voted 7-0 to keep the property tax mill rate at 11.44 mills for 2026, holding steady despite rising city costs after residents warned that higher taxes would force fishing families out of town.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Alaska keeps veto power over LNG project despite 25% stake
Alaska keeps veto power over major Alaska LNG decisions despite owning only 25 percent of the joint venture with Glenfarne Group, including approval rights over contracts, capital requests, and rate structures that prioritize in-state gas use.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Federal highway chief commits to King Cove Road action
Federal Highway Administrator committed to finalize the Road, an 11-mile project connecting the community to Cold Bay's airport, and will visit Alaska in late June.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
ASD claims state funding bill comes too late
Anchorage School District says a potential $37 million state funding increase tied to an August 31 revenue determination arrives too late to hire teachers before the 2026-27 school year begins.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Senate Finance hears $18 billion revenue trade-off for Alaska LNG tax break
Senate Finance heard the proposed Alaska LNG tax break would cut state and municipal revenues by $18 billion over 30 years, but the estimate rests on construction costs that may range from $45 billion to $90 billion.
by Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Nome cuts school funding by $500K, forcing layoffs and larger classes
Nome Common Council cut school funding by $500,000 to $2.7 million for fiscal 2027, forcing the district to eliminate positions including teachers, counselors, and a school psychologist while class sizes grow.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
Week of May 25
North Slope, Kenai mayors negotiate gas line property tax as House Finance delays bill deadline
North Slope Borough Mayor Patkotak and Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Micciche negotiated property tax terms for the Alaska LNG project as the House Finance Committee delayed its amendment deadline to allow talks to continue.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago4 min read
Kodiak Borough advances FY27 budget with 8.91 mill rate to hearing
Kodiak Borough Assembly voted unanimously Wednesday to hold the property tax rate at 8.91 mills, a decision that keeps the rate flat but will result in higher tax bills for most homeowners as assessed property values increase.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Senate Finance Committee: how do you analyze a $46.2 billion pipeline without the numbers?
Alaska Senate Finance Committee halted action on SB 2001 until the state gets the developer's actual cost data and gas sales contracts instead of relying on a model built on guesses.
by Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Alaska districts must submit fiscal 2027 plans by May 15. Many don't yet know what the state will give them.
Alaska school districts must submit improvement plans and budgets by May 15 while facing massive shortfalls and uncertain state funding, with Kenai Peninsula weighing four school closures and Anchorage facing a $90 million gap.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readAlaska House examines $4 billion LNG equity option, Fairbanks spur-line tax break
Alaska House Finance Committee examined a plan letting the state buy 5 to 25 percent equity stakes in Alaska LNG for up to $4 billion total, while conditioning a tax break for the pipeline on building a 30-mile spur line to Fairbanks.
by Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Unalaska Council advances FY27 budget, certifies tax roll
Unalaska City Council advanced its fiscal year 2027 budget ordinance and certified the 2026 property tax roll at its May 26 meeting, though final vote outcomes were not confirmed in available materials.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago1 min readAnchorage School District to receive $37 million from state education funding increase
Alaska Legislature approved a $144 million education funding increase, sending $37 million to Anchorage schools to help cover budget shortfalls from inflation and rising costs, plus a 4 percent annual cap on required local contributions.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Anchorage secures $25M for Port of Alaska in state capital budget
Anchorage won $25 million in state funding for Port of Alaska, with $15 million guaranteed and $10 million conditional on oil prices staying above $80 per barrel through mid-2026.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
Kodiak Island Borough Assembly approves $13.8M for schools, $836K below district request
Assembly approved 13.7 million dollars for schools, 836 thousand less than requested. • District already cut 2.7 million and warned more cuts mean losing aides, nurses, and counselors. • Federal COVID aid and education grants have ended, leaving borough to fill the gap. • State funding unlikely to improve until Alaska depletes its constitutional budget reserve.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Week of May 18
Juneau Assembly Finance Committee cuts $736,000 in recurring expenses, faces $687,000 deficit
Finance Committee cut $736,000 from city budget but Juneau still faces $687,000 deficit for 2027. Travel Juneau funding dropped $400,000, museum budget cut $261,500, and landscape budget trimmed $75,000. Committee rejected cuts to affordable housing and fire station lease that would raise insurance costs. Full Assembly votes on budget June 8.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFrom 