Gov. Mike Dunleavy give his State of the State speech to a Joint Session of the Alaska Legislature as Senate President Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, left, and House Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, listen at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 22. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)

Gov. Mike Dunleavy give his State of the State speech to a Joint Session of the Alaska Legislature as Senate President Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, left, and House Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, listen at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 22. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)

Gov’s bills includes $20M slash to education

The money was already approved.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed two supplemental budget bills Monday, one of which includes a $20 million cut to education.

Senate Bill 39 provides an increase for other areas of state government including Department of Corrections, the Alaska State Troopers and the Office of Information Technology. Both bills were referred to the Senate Finance Committee on Monday morning.

The second bill, Senate Bill 38, would appropriate $37.7 million toward disaster relief and mitigation.

Supplemental budget bills amend the current budget, which ends June 30, by moving unused funds from one department to another department.

In May 2018, legislators passed a $20 million appropriation to be distributed among Alaska’s school districts during the current fiscal year. Dunleavy’s proposal essentially nixes the $20 million appropriation approved by legislators when the budget passed.

The $20 million was the first budget increase in years. It was divided among Alaska’s 53 school districts and Mt. Edgecumbe school in Sitka.

According to a document from the Office of Budget and Management, the reason for the proposed education cut is, “The additional funding created a situation in which education was funded beyond the statutorily required amount while other programs were underfunded. This reduction is required to meet other obligations of the state.”

Rep. Andi Story, a freshman from Juneau who spent 15 years on the Board of Education, said she has never seen a move like this.

“That would be unprecedented to make a cut mid-year when school boards have already planned and made budgets, and worked with parents, and made contracts on those allocations,” Story said. “I want teachers, and parents and staff to focus on outcomes. Not the budget. They should be focused on kids right now and I don’t want them to have to worry about budget. It’s not the appropriate time to do it.”

Lisa Parady, executive director of the Alaska Council of School Administrators, said this proposed cut from the Dunleavy Administration was “not unexpected” but also “disappointing.” The Council of School Administrators represents superintendents, principals and other administrators but not teachers.

“The school districts have had this budgeted since July first,” Parady said in a phone interview. “In many cases districts in Alaska have relied on this revenue.”

Parady said going back on a deal that was reached the previous legislative session, would be a “double whammy” because of a Alaska’s teacher shortage, and would only exacerbate the situation.

“I think many educators are wondering whether to stay or to go,” Parady said.

Parady does not believe Alaskans want this education cut, nor does she believe there is a will in the legislature. She referenced a recently released survey from the Republican-led Senate Majority, that says 51 percent of those surveyed think education spending is too low.

“To take it back at this point is very difficult for school districts,” she added.

Before Dunleavy can sign a bill, it must be passed by the Senate and House. The House remains without a majority caucus, and it cannot conduct legislative business until it does.

Rep. Sara Hannon, D-Juneau, said she was perplexed by this supplemental bill.

“Instead of being an addition, you’re taking away money,” Hannan said. “If this bill if went through as the governor proposed it, (School districts) may be three-fifths of through the fiscal year before you ask for this money. That’s the part that really throws me.”

Senate Bill 38

This is a disaster relief bill to help make repairs in Southcentral Alaska following the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that rocked Anchorage in November. This disaster relief bill would provide a $6.5 million to match a federal grant of $46 million. This would be a forward payment for fiscal 2020.

The bill would add another $21.9 million to the state’s disaster relief fund. As the governor pointed out in a memo attached to the bill, “The full damage to highways may not be known until spring.” The state may have to spend more money repairing earthquake damage.

Another $1 million would go to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to make repairs that were not covered by insurance.

This bill would also appropriate $7.9 million to the Department of Natural Resources for the purpose of wildland firefighting and related activities.


• Contact reporter Kevin Baird at 523-2258 or kbaird@juneauempire.com.


More in News

Photo provided by United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development
Chugachmiut Board Vice Chair Larry Evanoff from Chenega, Chair Fran Norman from Port Graham, and Director Arne Hatch from Qutekcak break ground for the Chugachmiut Regional Health Center in Seward, June 3. The occasion marked the start of construction of the $20 million facility. The 15,475-square-foot tribally owned and operated health clinic will serve as a regional hub providing medical, dental and behavioral health services for Alaskans in seven tribal communities.
Ground broken for new regional health center in Seward

The tribally owned and operated facility will serve as a regional hub providing medical, dental and behavioral health care

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Kasilof River personal use gillnet fishery closed

It’s the Kenai River optimal escapement goal, not a Kasilof River escapement goal, that is cited by the announcement as triggering the close

The Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is seen on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai cuts ties with out-of-state marketing firm

Council members expressed skepticism about the firm’s performance

A firefighter from Cooper Landing Emergency Services refills a water tanker at the banks of the Kenai River in Cooper Landing, Alaska on Aug. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Cooper Landing voters to consider emergency service area for region

The community is currently served by Cooper Landing Emergency Services

Hundreds gather for the first week of the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna music series kicks off with crowds, colors and sunshine

A color run took off ahead of performances by Blackwater Railroad Company and BenJammin The Jammin Band

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes, left, testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during a budget work session on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly passes borough budget

The document fully funds borough schools and includes a decrease in property taxes

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Assembly shrinks borough planning commission

The planning commission is responsible for planning the “systemic development and betterment” of the borough

The Sterling Highway crosses the Kenai River near the Russian River Campground on March 15, 2020, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Russian River Campground reopens for 2 summer months

Reservations for campsites can be made online

Kristin Lambert testifies in support of funding for the Soldotna Senior Center during an assembly meeting on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
After leadership change, borough funds Soldotna senior center

The Soldotna City Council in May voted to defund the center for the upcoming fiscal year

Most Read