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.
Places and organizations in this news
Numbers are stories in the last 30 days.
Have a story about Budget? Send a tip
Week of May 11
Alaska Legislature Forms Conference Committee on $14B Operating Budget
Alaska lawmakers formed a conference committee Monday to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of the $14 billion fiscal year 2027 operating budget and mental health funding bill.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Week of May 4
Alaska House Finance Rejects Cemetery, School, Energy Amendments
Alaska House Finance rejected five capital budget amendments Friday, citing limited revenue. • Denied $850,000 for Eagle River cemetery and full funding for Galena school renovations. • Also rejected Arctic Winter Games support, West Susitna road authority, and $5 million hydroelectric study.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
House Finance cuts paid parental leave to 12 weeks, reduces benefits to $524
Alaska House Finance Committee cut paid parental leave from 26 weeks to 12 weeks and reduced weekly benefits from $817 to $524, citing fund solvency concerns and employer feedback.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
House Finance Advances Education Funding Bill Despite Fiscal Concerns
The House Finance Committee advanced a school funding bill costing $130 million annually to stabilize district budgets.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Alaska House panel considers doubling bulk fuel loan cap amid price crisis
Alaska House panel is considering doubling the maximum bulk fuel loan for rural communities to $1.5 million as fuel prices surge up to 100 percent and western Alaska faces potential supply shortages.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Senate panel advances behavioral health crisis surcharge bill
Alaska Senate Finance Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that would add a surcharge to phone bills to fund behavioral health crisis services, exempting discounted phones for low-income users.
by Alaska News6mo ago1 min read
House Finance advances education fund amendment, rejects gas pipeline revenue tie
Alaska House Finance advanced a constitutional amendment to create a dedicated education fund but rejected tying it to future gas pipeline revenues that could bring $700 million yearly.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
House Finance cuts West Susitna road funding from capital budget
House Finance cut $95 million for the West Susitna Access Road from the capital budget. Lawmakers fear the project will drain federal funds from other state needs.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
More from Budget
Week of Apr 27
Senate adds $156M to capital budget, prioritizes deferred maintenance
Alaska Senate added $156 million to the capital budget for deferred maintenance at schools, universities, and state facilities after oil prices rose beyond the governor's projections.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago5 min read
Alaska House Weighs $113M Education Funding Overhaul
House committee heard testimony on a $113 million bill to give school districts budget certainty by July 1, but members questioned whether the state can accurately model the long-term cost.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Hundreds pack Juneau Assembly meeting to oppose recreation facility cuts
Hundreds of Juneau residents opposed closing recreation facilities to help close a $10 million to $12 million budget gap, warning the cuts would force families to leave town.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
House Finance hears divided testimony on $95M West Susitna road allocation
House Finance heard divided testimony on a 95 million dollar West Susitna road project. • Opponents cited habitat risks while supporters argued for economic growth. • The committee also reviewed funding for homeless programs and the Arctic Winter Games.
by Alaska News6mo ago5 min read
House Finance Hears Sharp Divide Over $95M for West Susitna Road
House Finance heard sharp debate Wednesday on a $95 million appropriation for the West Susitna Access Road, with opponents calling it a mining subsidy and supporters touting economic development.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Senate Finance advances $2.8B operating budget to Rules Committee
Alaska Senate Finance advanced the $2.8 billion operating budget to the Rules Committee on Thursday, moving it closer to final passage after a contentious House debate marked by close votes.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min read
Eagle Crest faces $1.68M subsidy request or severe cuts
Eagle Crest is asking Anchorage for $1.68 million to operate next year, warning that the city's historical $930,000 subsidy would force cuts so severe the ski area might not survive.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
Education Fund Amendment Advances With Key Questions Unresolved
A proposed constitutional amendment to create a protected education fund advanced in the House despite missing funding and scope details.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago4 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
Senate Passes $2.47B Capital Budget Focused on School Repairs
Alaska Senate passed a $2.47 billion capital budget Tuesday that directs $88.7 million to fix deteriorating K-12 schools, including a fire suppression system waiting 20 years for repair.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago3 min read
Alaska House panel hears bill to overhaul school funding timelines
House Bill 261 would let Alaska school districts budget using enrollment numbers from July instead of October, letting them offer teacher contracts months earlier when more candidates are available.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago4 min read
Alaska releases FY25 Single Audit after closed-door review
Alaska's Legislative Budget and Audit Committee unanimously released the state's FY25 Single Audit, a federal requirement that examines how Alaska spends and manages federal funds.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago1 min read
Borough proposes $580K budget with new staff, building upgrades
Kodiak Island Borough's $580,000 fiscal year 2027 budget adds a construction manager, switches to electric heating, and funds $147,000 in ADA accessibility upgrades.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago3 min read
House Finance considers multi-year school funding averaging bill
House Bill 261 would let Alaska school districts know enrollment by July 1 instead of October, using three-year averaging to give them budget certainty and time to hire teachers earlier.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
House panel questions education fund proposal with no guaranteed revenue
House Finance Committee questioned whether a proposed constitutional education fund guarantees school money, since it requires no dedicated revenue and lets future legislatures spend it down to zero.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
House Finance hears $8.4M in governor's budget amendments
House Finance heard $8.4 million in budget amendments, including salary increases for public safety workers and a reversal of pay raises for newly unionized University of Alaska employees.
by Alaska News6mo ago8 min read
Week of Apr 20
Senate Finance advances pension bill with municipal opt-in provision
The Senate Finance Committee advanced a pension bill on April 24 that lets municipalities choose whether to pay higher rates for the new plan.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago5 min read
House Finance sets amendment deadline for police, firefighter disability bill
House Finance set an April 23 amendment deadline for a bill raising disability pay for injured police and firefighters from 40 percent to 75 percent of salary.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago6 min read
Senate Finance adopts $13.8B budget with $150 energy payments, school grants
Alaska Senate Finance approved a $13.83 billion budget Thursday with $150 energy payments for every resident and up to $100 million in school grants, leaving a $51.3 million surplus.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Senate Finance hears tax modernization bill, sets aside for further review
Senate Finance heard testimony on House Bill 280, which would shift corporate income tax to market-based sourcing and generate roughly $15 million annually, but deferred a vote.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min readFrom 
Senate panel approves $139.2 million budget for Department of Law
Alaska Senate panel approved a $139.2 million operating budget for the Department of Law for fiscal year 2027, a modest increase from the prior year's $136.8 million.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago2 min readSenate cuts House domestic violence funding additions in half
Alaska Senate cut domestic violence funding additions in half Tuesday, reducing House support for survivors by $1.45 million total and setting up a budget fight before final passage.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago2 min read
Senate Finance subcommittee recommends $1.17 billion university budget
Senate Finance subcommittee approved a $1.17 billion University of Alaska budget for fiscal year 2027, adding $2.25 million for student recruitment and employee raises.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago2 min read
Senate panel advances $349 million administration budget
Senate panel approved a $349.4 million budget for the Department of Administration but blocked the governor's plan to decentralize payroll services, citing risks to employee pay.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago2 min read
Senate panel cuts jail funding in half, seeks out-of-state inmate housing
Alaska Senate panel cut jail funding in half to $2.8 million and ordered the state to explore housing inmates out of state, signaling a major shift in corrections policy.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago2 min readSenate panel approves $441 million education budget with teacher incentives
Senate panel approved a $441 million education budget for fiscal 2027, adding $450,000 for teacher incentives and $2 million for Head Start matching funds.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago2 min readSenate panel approves $485 million Department of Revenue budget
Senate Finance Subcommittee approved a $485.1 million Department of Revenue budget for fiscal year 2027, rejecting a proposal to consolidate Permanent Fund Corporation spending into a single account.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago2 min read
Alaska Senate adjourns technical session after committee report
Alaska Senate advanced its FY27 capital budget bill to the Rules Committee after a Finance Committee substitute, reconvening April 20.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago2 min read
Senate minority outlines pension reform, gas line concerns at press conference
Alaska Senate minority members outlined concerns about pension reform, the Alaska LNG project's economic viability, and several judiciary bills at a Thursday press conference.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago5 min read
Senate panel approves $4.2 billion health budget with Medicaid rate hikes
Alaska Senate panel approved a $4.2 billion health budget with $377 million in new Medicaid provider rate increases, but rejected $8 million for a virtual call center.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago2 min read
Senate panel approves $515 million budget for family services agency
Senate panel added $1.5 million to a $515.3 million family services budget to stabilize child advocacy centers across Alaska.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago2 min read
Senate Finance adopts operating budget with $150 energy payment, school grants
Alaska Senate Finance adopted a $13.83 billion operating budget with a $150 energy payment per person and up to $100 million in school grants, depending on oil prices.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read
Week of Apr 13
Alaska House Rejects 30% Cut to Regional Jail Funding Despite Low Use
Alaska House rejected a proposal to cut a 30% regional jail funding increase, voting 16-24 against the amendment despite data showing many facilities operate at near-zero capacity.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago3 min read