Budget
RSSAlaska News tracks budget issues affecting Alaska schools, municipalities, state agencies, and public services.
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 Newsadded 4mo ago5 min read
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 News5mo ago2 min read
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 News5mo ago4 min read
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 News5mo ago4 min read
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 News5mo ago5 min read
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 News5mo ago2 min read
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 News5mo ago3 min read
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 Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Senate Passes $2.47B Capital Budget Focused on School Repairs
The Alaska Senate unanimously approved a $2.47 billion capital budget Tuesday that directs 94% of new unrestricted general funds to K-12 school maintenance, addressing projects that have waited up to 20 years for funding.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
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 Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
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 Newsadded 5mo ago1 min read
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 Newsadded 5mo ago3 min read
House Finance considers multi-year school funding averaging bill
The House Finance Committee heard testimony on HB 261, which would shift Alaska's education funding to a three-year enrollment average instead of annual counts, giving districts earlier budget certainty but carrying a fiscal note approaching $1 billion over five years.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
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 News5mo ago3 min read
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 News5mo ago8 min read
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 Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
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 News5mo ago4 min read
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 News5mo ago3 min read
House Finance sets amendment deadline for police, firefighter disability bill
The House Finance Committee set an amendment deadline for legislation increasing disability benefits for injured peace officers and firefighters, while also advancing a mail theft bill and revising a paid parental leave measure.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago6 min read
Senate Finance adopts operating budget with $150 energy payment, school grants
The Senate Finance Committee adopted a $13.83 billion operating budget that includes a $150 per person energy relief payment and up to $100 million in one-time grants to school districts.
by Alaska News5mo ago4 min read
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 Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate 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 Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
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 Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
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 Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
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 Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate 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 Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readSenate 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 Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate adjourns technical session after committee report
The Alaska State Senate held a brief technical session Wednesday, receiving one committee report before adjourning until Monday.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
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 Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
Senate panel approves $4.2 billion health budget with Medicaid rate hikes
The Senate Budget Subcommittee for the Department of Health approved a $4.2 billion fiscal year 2027 budget that includes $377 million in Medicaid provider rate increases and funding for food banks and early learning programs.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Senate panel approves $515 million budget for family services agency
The Senate Budget Subcommittee approved a $515.3 million fiscal year 2027 budget for the Department of Family and Community Services, including $1.5 million added for child advocacy centers.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Alaska House Panel Advances Bill to Speed Up State Contract Payments
The House Finance Committee narrowly approved legislation requiring faster payment of state contracts despite concerns about $1 million+ costs and potential consequences for small nonprofits.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min readAlaska House Rejects 30% Cut to Regional Jail Funding Despite Low Use
The Alaska House of Representatives voted down an amendment that would have reduced funding increases for underutilized regional jails, with supporters citing 22% statewide utilization rates.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago3 min readAlaska House committee reviews $759K in agency requests to fix payment delays
State agencies requested hundreds of thousands in penalty funds and new positions rather than fixing systemic payment delays affecting nonprofits and contractors.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readConference Committee Approves Supplemental Budget with CBR Safeguards
The conference committee passed House Bill 289, Alaska's supplemental budget, with amended language to limit constitutional budget reserve use and reduce contingency funding from $30 million to $20 million.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min readState'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 Newsadded 6mo ago2 min read
Conference Committee Forms to Resolve HB 289 Budget Differences
A joint legislative conference committee convened to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of the fiscal year 2026 supplemental budget.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago2 min read