Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

February 5, 2026

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Last week, the Anchorage School District released their budget with reduced staffing and programming to cover a $90 million deficit. Public schools across the state are looking for funding boosts to save essential programs, services, and staff.

This week in the Senate Health and Social Services Committee, we learned about how over $270 million in federal funds will be distributed to local health care providers and organizations.

Finally, please take our 2026 Constituent Survey!

2026 Constituent Survey

Our survey focuses on the questions that legislators face each year, including which state services should receive priority. Funding prioritization is particularly important as we continue to face financial challenges. The results of our survey will help inform us about legislation we decide to support and how to vote on key issues this session.

Take our constituent survey here!

Not sure if you're a constituent?

Enter your address at the bottom of the akleg.gov home page to see who your legislators are.

All District H constituents are welcome to take the survey.

Public Education Cuts & Updates

Statewide Education Updates

Last year, the Legislature successfully raised the Base Student Allocation (BSA). However, it was not enough to meaningfully balance the education budgets of many school districts. Across the state, our public schools are feeling the effects of insufficient funding. Last month, the Kuspuk School District and the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District filed a lawsuit against the State of Alaska claiming that the state has failed to meet its Constitutional duty to provide a system of public education to the children of Alaska. Many rural schools face severe maintenance backlogs from decades of insufficient funding. Some schools have leaky roofs or broken boilers. To keep schools open and students safe, more funding is needed.

ASD Releases $90 million in Cuts

Last week, the Anchorage School District released a budget for the 2026-27 school year with over $90 million worth of reductions. It cuts 500 positions, including over 300 teachers, increases class sizes by an average of four students, cuts nurses' positions, eliminates all middle school sports and many high school sports, and cuts principles and counselors. This proposed budget is discouraging.

This month, the Anchorage Assembly voted to place a special property tax levy on the April ballot to raise additional revenue for public education. The one-time tax levy would raise about $12 million for the school district. The tax must be approved by Anchorage voters and was not accounted for in the school district's budget.

The Anchorage School District isn't the only school district facing a severe budget shortage. School districts across the state continue to struggle with funding shortfalls after years of insufficient funding.

Last year, the Legislature raised the BSA by $700. But that increase wasn't enough to make up for years of flat funding and inflation. The state continues to face a revenue deficit due to lower-than-anticipated oil prices and reduced federal grants and funds.

Senate Bill 46 & the BSA: is there a better way to fund public education?

In the eleven years I’ve been in the Legislature, we have only raised the BSA by $980. Prices have risen over 36% for the same period, and keeping up with inflation would have required an $1,800 increase in the BSA. Rather than funding schools based on a formula that must be debated each year, the Legislature can appropriate money just like it does for each department. Senate Bill 46 requires the Governor to publish the prior year education expenses adjusted for inflation. SB 46 aims to move the conversation away from the BSA and towards a transparent, sustainable, long-term solution to fund our schools.

Rural Health Transformation Program

The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is a $50 billion federal opportunity created by Congress in 2025 to improve health care in rural areas across all fifty states. Alaska is one of the top recipients nationwide, receiving over $272 million each year for the next five years. The funding will go toward prevention, chronic disease management, and sustainable access to care as close to home as possible.

Last week, the Senate Health and Social Services Committee heard a presentation from the Alaska Department of Health about the status of the RHTP in Alaska. Applications will go online soon, allowing organizations across the state the chance to fund projects that meet Alaska's key initiatives.

The Legislature is responsible for meeting certain policy promises, such as adding certain licensed health professions to national licensure compacts by the end of 2027. We will continue to ask key questions about these and other healthcare policies as they move through the legislature.

You can find more information on the RHTP in Alaska at the Dept. of Health website.

Happy Black History Month!

February celebrates Black History Month, and this February marks 100 years of celebrating Black history. This year's theme is “A century of black commemorations” to recognize and celebrate the achievements of all those who have contributed to this important chapter of our history!

Community Information

→ Voter Registration Deadline is March 8, 2026

The Anchorage Municipal Election is Tuesday, April 7. It is important for your address information in the voter registration database to be current. To review your registration information, visit myvoterinformation.alaska.gov. To register to vote, or to update your voter registration information, visit voterregistration.alaska.gov. You can also:

Email the Region II office at electionsr2@alaska.gov
Call the State of Alaska Division of Elections Director's Office at 907-465-4611
Print a paper form to complete and sign. Send your completed form by mail, fax, or email attachment to:

Region II Elections Office

2525 Gambell Street, Suite 100

Anchorage, AK 99503-2838

Fax: 907-522-2341

Email: electionsr2@alaska.gov

To be eligible to vote, you must register with the State of Alaska Division of Elections no later than 30 days before Election Day, which is Sunday, March 8th.

→ People Mover Free Rides for Fur Rondy

People Mover is offering free rides to individuals displaying their 2026 Fur Rondy collector pins throughout the festival (February 23 – March 11, 2026). Individuals who show the bus operator their official 2026 Fur Rondy collector pin will enjoy free rides on People Mover buses throughout the festival period. The community is encouraged to grab their 2026 Fur Rondy collector pins and take advantage of this exciting opportunity.

Community Events

Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup

When:

Friday, February 6, 7:00 to 9:00 PM

Saturday, February 7, 5:00 to 7:00 PM

Friday, February 20, 7:00 to 9:00 PM

Saturday, February 21, 5:00 to 9:00 PM

Where: Sullivan Arena

Seawolf Hockey is excited to announce the 30th Anniversary of the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup. We’re taking the series back to where it all started — the Sullivan Arena! Feb. 6–7 and Feb. 20–21, Seawolves Hockey will take on UAF at the Sully, and we’re inviting you to join the excitement of Alaska's premier hockey rivalry! Admission is free for children ages 5 and under, and parking is complimentary.

Don’t miss out — purchase tickets now https://aac-uaa.evenue.net/events/HKY2526!

Tickets will be available for purchase at the door with credit/debit card only.

For more information, click here.

Jewel Lake Jamboree

When: February 7th, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Where: Jewel Lake Park (4402 West Dimond Blvd)

Join us for the 38th Annual Jewel Lake Jamboree on Saturday, Feb. 7th from 10am-3pm on Jewel Lake in Anchorage, Alaska. This all-ages, FREE event is open to the public, and everyone is invited to attend. The Jewel Lake Jamboree is also kick-off for the Bait Shack Community event series.

In addition to ice fishing, come out for a day of fun on the lake:

- Enter for a chance to win door prizes

- Enjoy free hot chocolate & apple cider

- Check out Gold Star Peak and how they are making an impact in our community

- Grab lunch from High Five Hand Pies

- Swing by Wounded Warrior Project and see how they are helping take care of our local Heroes

- Ask ADF&G all your fishing questions

This year members of the 2026 Rondy Royalty along with Rondy Bear will be joining us out on the ice. Make sure to bring your camera for a picture.

Fishing holes will be drilled and available for the public to use. Limited sets of ice fishing rods and bait for anglers will be provided for use for free. Come out and see if ice fishing is for you. Anglers are welcome to bring their own ice fishing gear and secret baits as well!

The week prior, the lake is stocked with chinook salmon and ice holes are drilled for an annual kids' ice fishing experience offered through ADF&G and ASD.

Thank you to Jewel Lake Church of the Nazarene for offering free overflow parking at:

4025 W 88th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99502.

Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game staff will also be on-site with fishing licenses available for purchase if needed.

Resident anglers age 18 and over, and Non-Resident anglers age 16 and over are required to have a current 2026 State of Alaska Sport Fishing License.

There will also be door prizes and giveaways throughout the day. All you need to do is show up, fish, and enter to win! For more information, click here.