Thursday was the day for the budget signing in the Governor’s Office. Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed some $122 million out of the budget given to him by the leftist-controlled Alaska Legislature. The vetoes were surgical. The full spending, excluding federal receipts, will be about $5.3 billion.
View all the budget documents at this link.
Before releasing the details of the cuts, he said “We don’t have enough money to pay for all of our obligations,” he said, because of the price of oil dropping and thus, revenue diminishing. “So as a result of that you’re going to see some reductions in this year’s budget. It’s not an easy thing to do. It’s certainly not a fun thing to do. But it’s necessary.”
He said his office had already predicted lower revenues and had presented amendments to the Legislature earlier this year to reduce the ask of the appropriating body. He also said that the price of oil and revenue may change and he and the Legislature can make adjustments next year in the supplemental budget if conditions improve.
Indeed, when Israel bombed Iran on Thursday night, the early markets showed a marked pop upward of oil prices, which are notoriously volatile.
Notably, the Base Student Allocation increase, which was set at $700 for the coming year, was reduced to $500, about a 28% decrease. That saved $50 million. The Anchorage School Board, having been tipped off about the cut, held an emergency board meeting on Thursday, at which it was announced this will cost the district about $4.3 million. Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt said he wants to take Gov. Dunleavy to court over the cut.
Also, the Legislature’s designated cut to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority did not stand. Dunleavy instead will use funds from the Higher Education Investment Fund and attempt to replenish that fund in a supplemental appropriation next year.
The Alaska Travel Industry Association was trimmed by $2.5 million and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute’s budget was cut by 50%.
The governor also cut funding to the Alaska Children’s Trust. Last month the ACT announced it will be sponsoring the creation of a new nonprofit: “Alaskans for Trans Kids.”
The Alaska House Democrat-led majority issued a press release saying it will override the vetoes in January, when the Legislature convenes again.
Hmmm… Schools are still getting more than they ever had before…
Oil may be up, but we still have three weeks of this current budget which is based at $75 a barrel… Then it’s a long ways to January and the next session..
My money is on OPEC making Iran a miniature speed bump.
Democrats can huff and puff all they want, but the Governor has the upper hand. It’s only a 15 vote block of conservatives to maintain the vetos.
AND it’s only a 21 vote block to keep the money in the CBR, where it belongs.
I support you Governor!
Does it appear that Big Mike is battling an illness? He was looking gaunt recently but now all puffed up. God Speed good man!
Should have set down the scalpel and picked up the axe. 🪓🪓🪓🪓
Maybe millei can give him a chainsaw like the one Musk was given
I am not from Alaska but according to the information on line both houses are controlled by Republicans – although slim in the Senate (11 to 9). If all unaffiliated and one independent votes with the Democrats it is still 21 to 19 in the House with Republican control. Also, a line item override requires a supermajority of 45 of 60 which appears they might have based on a recent override of the entire bill (46 of 60) but they must be getting Republican votes. That signals Republican party dispute over education, not leftist intent as written in the article.
Kenneth, we in Alaska are aware of how veto overrides work, thanks for pointing it out. I suggest you move up here and get a better lay of the land.
The house is controlled by a coalition made up of democrats, independents(closet democrats) and pretend republicans (who know they would not win as democrats in their districts or have a special interest). The senate isn’t any better, so the republican party has a dispute with defector republicans not education. Just shoveling more money at school districts without expectations (what we have done for years) isn’t cutting it, as our test score are low and our kids pay the price.
Thanks for playing.
Perhaps you might wish to take a moment to learn what we know before making stupid assessments.
Good luck with that lawsuit Anchorage School District. Start cutting the budget and closing school(s).
The state should take ASD to court for placing an unqualified imbecile as Superintendent who violates current federal rules about DEI, doesn’t notifying parents about trans-kids they promote and makes up social security numbers for undocumented workers he hires.
Of all the ignorant stupidity I’ve ever heard, Jharrett Bryantt suing the governor over money no one has now reveals he’s about as good at math as he is qualified for the job. Go back to Texas and wreck another school district there. ASD School Board doesn’t need your help wrecking the district here.
Unfortunately,he’s basically been kicked out of Houston and Texas, because of his teaching the WOKE and transgender idiology. TX won’t put up with the garbage and he was being “fired”when our ASD hired him.
This is good news. I don’t understand why Republicans voted for an unbalanced budget. There will always be a need for more spending; however, spending should be in agreement with the revenues.
Again you fail to show your backbone. I don’t care if the liberal legislators over turn your vetos, at least it would have showed you tried. This state led by the wackos in Anchorage is going to hell in a hand basket. People will hopefully get off their butts and vote in some true conservatives that will stick together and fix the pigs at the trough.
I know three teachers who, after this news was announced, all told me independently this was the last straw and that they are leaving the state.
I guess the 3 teachers need to ask their administration if 27k per student is not enough? Maybe they should turn their anger towards the over bloated administration of schools, as it seems like over %60 of the money goes to them. The loser superintendent should go back to his failing Texas Independent District; oh wait, that was taken over by the state for being so bad.
Once again, the Cowardly Lion wets himself.
I can’t wait until this fraud is gone.
legislators or fake republicans need to do what the voters voted them in for. Be republican and don’t override the Veto.
Jharrett wants to go to court over his spilled milk?
Someone please get him a fresh box of tampons to dry him up.
He is simply too annoying to listen to.
Texas does not want him back so maybe the Canada high school with the big boob shop teacher has a “slot” for him?
I support the Governor . I shutter to think who will be our next Governor, I’m sure there’s a liberal who is chomping at the bit to get in there……or a Republican in disguise .
He should have vetoed more, but realistically this keeps the threat of a veto override completely off the table…sometimes politics suck. He said he supported raising the bsa with changes, more changes should have been made, but some were made. The legislature we keep providing are not friendly to his beliefs or those of any conservative, since we do not elect dictators and our system has checks and balances this is what we get. If we want more conservative government we better start electing it.
Until the ASD makes meaningful cuts to programs and policies that do not directly impact students and test scores, nothing will change. Removing NEA and AFT would be a good start. Funding has steadily gone up while test scores have consistently gone down. Alaska is towards the bottom of the barrel. School admins and unions keep clamoring for more with zero accountability and zero to show for it. Enough is enough.
Needs more veto