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 May 18
Cordova Council debates mill rate hike as school funding deadline nears
Cordova Council must choose by June 3 between raising property taxes or using federal funds for a $181,000 school budget increase. City Manager Sam proposed raising the mill rate to 12.07, costing homeowners about $404 more yearly. Council has $436,000 to $486,000 in available federal funding but debates if one-time money can reliably fund ongoing school costs.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Anchorage faces $31M deficit across internal service funds
Anchorage has $31 million in deficits across internal service funds. • Whoops!
by Cale Green5mo ago2 min read
Cordova Council approves $181,000 school funding increase, defers payment decision
Cordova Council approved $181,000 school funding increase, half the district's request. • Council delays payment decision until May 20, debating mill-rate increase. • District needs to split 36-student seventh grade class and hire math teacher. • Cordova High School ranked Alaska's top high school two consecutive years.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Petersburg proposes area-wide property tax to balance FY27 budget
Petersburg adds 1.71 mills to property taxes to cover 5% budget increase. • Health insurance costs rise $90,000, plus vehicle replacement and wage raises. • Marine passenger fee increases from $5 to $8 per head starting January 2027. • Final budget vote scheduled for June 1.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Petersburg sees early revenue gains after senior sales tax exemption removal
Petersburg gained 26000 dollars in January and 22000 dollars in February sales tax revenue after removing a senior exemption. • The borough removed the exemption to balance its budget without drawing reserves. • The assembly will consider raising the 1200 dollar sales tax cap in May, the lowest in Southeast Alaska. • Voters must approve any cap increase. Final budget approval is June 1.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Kenai proposes $1.55 million for street work, pay raises in 2027 budget
Kenai budgets $1.55 million for street work and 2 percent pay raises for all staff. • Paramedic and police certification pay increases to match neighboring departments. • City allocates $300,000 for public safety building design ahead of November 2027 bond vote. • Water and sewer rates rise 4 percent to cover inflation and future plant upgrades.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Kodiak Assembly weighs $800,000 school funding compromise
Kodiak Assembly proposed $800,000 school funding using one-time earnings instead of raising property taxes. • School district faces rising costs while state funding has stalled since 2011. • District is depleting reserves and full funding would cut building repairs and hospital upgrades. • Assembly split on using temporary money for ongoing costs.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Kodiak residents defend auditorium position as school budget vote nears
Kodiak residents urged the assembly to fund the auditorium technical director or risk losing a key community facility. • The 700-seat auditorium hosts school shows and touring acts but has only one staff member. • Assembly members explored moving the position to the borough budget instead of school budget. • The school district is requesting $1.6 million more in local funding for fiscal year 2027.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
More from Budget
Juneau Assembly faces budget crisis with projected negative fund balance
Juneau faces $1 million budget shortfall by 2027 after tax cuts reduced revenue. • Assembly must cut services, close facilities, or raise property taxes before June 15 vote. • Residents pushed back Monday against closing recreation facilities like Eagle Crest. • City approved $12.2 million repayment for failed gondola project.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Alaska DOT faces continued budget shortfall despite partial restoration
Alaska DOT gets only half of $5 million budget restored for next fiscal year, leaving shortfalls in equipment, utilities, and energy costs. • Department will keep cost controls in place and monitor spending to protect maintenance services. • Capital budget and federal matching funds were fully approved for fiscal year 2027.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
East High students organize benefit concert to save band program
East High students host benefit concert Saturday to save band program facing elimination due to budget cuts. • School plans to cut band director position, affecting 100 students across five classes. • Concert runs 2 to 5 p.m. at Club Nyt Lyt with $15 suggested donation, all proceeds to band account. • Anchorage schools cutting programs after state education funding remained flat.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
VA budget seeks $488 billion with 60,000 Alaska veterans facing shift toward private care
VA requests $488 billion budget, shifting $17 billion toward private care while holding VA facility funding flat, affecting 60,000 Alaska veterans. • VA lost 50,000 employees in 2025 and 2026, raising concerns about workforce and direct care. • Budget cuts appeals processing and oversight despite rising caseloads. • Includes $10.4 billion for infrastructure and health records modernization.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Alaska Senate opens special session on natural gas tax overhaul
Alaska Senate opened special session to overhaul natural gas taxes through Senate Bill 2001. • New volumetric tax on gas throughput and revised municipal property tax calculations for schools. • Governor Dunleavy called session under May 19 proclamation limited to natural gas tax bills. • Senate coordinating with House and three state departments to avoid costly errors.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Dunleavy vetoes transit plan, calls special session on gas pipeline tax
Governor Dunleavy vetoed a statewide transit bill and called a special legislative session to address natural gas pipeline taxation, with Senate Finance Committee hearings beginning Wednesday at 9 a.m.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate passes $13.9B operating budget with $200 energy relief
Alaska Senate approved $13.9B budget with $200 energy relief per person added to Permanent Fund Dividend. • Budget passed 17-3 and includes $11M for heating assistance and $29.1M in school fuel grants. • Operating budget maintains $44M surplus and now goes to House for final vote.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Alaska House passes bill removing tax-remittance deductions
Alaska House passed a bill removing tax-collection deductions for motor fuel, tobacco, and tire fees, expected to raise nearly $500,000 yearly.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min readComing 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
House votes to eliminate tax filing discounts worth $500,000 annually
Alaska House voted to eliminate four tax discounts worth $500,000 yearly, including a cigarette stamp break that persisted two decades after the equipment it subsidized was paid off.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
School district property insurance costs to double, equivalent to four teaching positions
Juneau School District property insurance costs will more than double to over $800,000 next year, forcing the district to cut the equivalent of four teaching positions since state law caps school funding and insurance falls under that cap.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readFrom 
Alaska Energy Conference Highlights Gas Pipeline Progress Amid Legislative Tax Debate
Alaska LNG pipeline signed contracts, targets 2029 delivery, but governor and legislature split on tax framework. • Southcentral consumers could pay $22.96 per thousand cubic feet if exports fail, double current rates. • Federal officials highlighted critical minerals and $1 billion in funding, but permitting takes 15 to 18 years. • Rural Alaska pays $6.63 per gallon with no pipeline relief in sight.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago4 min read
Alaska Senate adopts final operating, mental health and capital budgets
Alaska Senate passed fiscal year 2027 operating budget on 17-3 vote, balanced at $75 per barrel oil without drawing from savings. • Mental health budget approved 20-0, adding $3.5 million for behavioral health treatment and $500,000 for crisis call center. • Capital budget concurred 18-2, including $32.5 million for University of Alaska deferred maintenance and school and port projects.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Alaska Legislature fails to override veto of pension bill
Alaska Legislature fell seven votes short of overriding the governor's veto of a bill that would have restored pension options for public employees and teachers, voting 33-27 when 40 votes were needed.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Juneau Assembly Finance Committee votes 6-3 to end gondola project, repay Goldbelt
Juneau Assembly Finance Committee voted 6-3 to end the Eagle Crest gondola project and repay Goldbelt's $12 million loan after construction costs jumped from $7 million to $27 million.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago4 min read
Public Commenter Blames Management Turmoil for $12M Gondola Cost Surge
A Juneau resident told the Assembly that management failures and procurement delays have driven the Eagle Crest gondola project cost up by $12 million, warning taxpayers could face that shutdown bill.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
House Finance Committee advances PFD restoration for wrongfully convicted
House Finance Committee advanced a bill to restore Permanent Fund Dividends to Alaskans whose convictions were wrongfully vacated, with a two-year deadline to apply after exoneration.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min readHouse Finance advances tobacco age increase, e-cigarette tax on 7-4 vote
House Finance advanced a bill raising the tobacco purchase age to 21 and taxing e-cigarettes at retail, effective July 2026 and July 2027.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago4 min readHouse panel hears bill to restore PFDs for wrongfully convicted Alaskans
A House panel heard testimony on a bill allowing wrongfully convicted Alaskans to reclaim Permanent Fund dividends lost during incarceration, affecting roughly five known cases worth about $107,852.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Week of May 11
Alaska News Roundup: Gas pipeline tax fight, Point Thomson trade-off, and McNeil River access debate
Senate passed gas pipeline tax bill raising oil production tax floor to six percent, drawing industry criticism. • Point Thomson regulators warn blowdown for pipeline risks sixty-five million barrels of condensate. • Mount Edgecumbe enrollment dropped a quarter to three hundred eleven students amid facility and health concerns. • Fish and Game reviews wheeled plane landings at McNeil River bear sanctuary despite conservation objections.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Alaska Legislature approves $1,000 PFD, $200 energy relief payment
Alaska Legislature set the Permanent Fund Dividend at $1,000 and raised energy relief payments to $200 per person, with the energy increase costing $127.3 million.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
House panel cuts youth tobacco fines, advances Tobacco 21 bill
Alaska House panel advanced a Tobacco 21 bill Saturday, cutting fines for minors from $300 to $100 and eliminating mandatory court appearances for tobacco possession citations.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Senate panel weighs municipal concerns over Alaska LNG tax structure
Alaska Senate panel revised the LNG tax bill to raise annual revenue to $625 million and added a 10-year sunset clause to address municipal concerns about setting a precedent for future tax breaks.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
House Finance advances civics education bill after rejecting military exemption
Alaska House Finance advanced a civics education bill for high school graduation, rejecting a military exemption after finding existing law already protects military families.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances full funding for pre-K students statewide
Senate panel voted to count pre-K students as full-time in school funding, removing a $3 million cap and 2034 sunset date to boost aid to districts.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
House panel hears gas line tax bill with 15-cent volumetric fee
House panel heard a bill replacing property taxes on the Alaska LNG pipeline with a 15-cent volumetric tax, projected to generate $10 million for the state in 2029.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
House rejects Galena school funding swap after dramatic rescind vote
The Alaska House rejected a plan to strip $5 million in school funding from Galena and redirect it to projects in Anchorage, the Mat-Su, and Fairbanks, voting 20-19 after a dramatic rescind sequence.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min readBering Strait School District holds second budget meeting in nine days
Bering Strait School District holds its second budget meeting in nine days on May 13, with no public agenda posted and decisions that could affect 1,800 students across 15 rural schools.
by Alaska News6mo ago1 min readAlaska Conference Committee Advances 23 of 25 Supplemental Budget Items
Alaska's conference committee approved 23 of 25 items in the $14 billion fiscal 2026 supplemental budget on May 12, mostly accepting Senate versions and leaving two items for further talks.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
House Finance Advances Paid Parental Leave Bill
House Finance advanced a paid parental leave bill creating a new payroll tax, with benefits starting in 2029. • Small businesses with fewer than 25 workers would be exempt from providing benefits but employees would still pay in. • Committee raised concerns about long-term funding past 2040 and potential equal protection issues.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Senate Finance exempts emergency management from contract payment rules
Senate Finance approved a bill exempting Alaska's emergency management division from new contract payment rules to speed disaster response.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Alaska House Passes Required Local Contribution Cap for Schools
Alaska House voted 24-16 to cap annual growth in required local school funding at 2%, shifting roughly $29 million in education costs from municipalities to the state.
by Alaska News6mo ago5 min read
Alaska House panel hears push to raise tobacco age to 21, tax vapes at 25%
The House Finance Committee is considering a bill to raise the tobacco age to 21 and add a 25 percent tax on vaping products.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read