School administrators, teachers and parents from across the state testified before the House Finance Committee Tuesday in support of increased school funding. Rep. Les Gara’s HB 339 would increase the base student allocation by $100 to $6,030.
"Les Gara"
Oil revenue is up in state’s spring forecast
The state will still have a $2.3 billion gap between what it spends and what it raises. Lawmakers from the two majorities in the Legislature had different responses to the news.
Alaska’s Medicaid and public assistance backlog is 20,000 people deep
The House Finance Committee voted in favor of hiring 41 people to reduce the backlog. “The morale in that department is not good,” said Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage.
Next election may delay plan to fund state government
Candidates have been announcing plans for governor, lieutenant governor and the Legislature since July. And they’re taking positions that could make a budget deal more difficult.
Closed process on capital budget draws criticism
In five and a half hours on July 27, the two chambers met, formed a conference committee and passed the $1.4 billion capital budget.
Legislature passes capital budget in one-day special session
The vote allows road projects and other construction to move forward. It was the only piece of business for the six-hour special session.