Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

February 9, 2024

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Last week, the Senate passed SB 88, which would establish an improved retirement system for public employees and teachers. This bipartisan legislation is an important step towards building a strong economy and recruiting and retaining employees in Alaska's public sector.

Senate Bill 88: Public Employee Pension Retirement Legislation

The Senate recently passed Senator Cathy Giessel’s Senate Bill 88 to establish an improved retirement system for public employees and teachers. The legislation would create a new pension system for as many as 37,000 public employees and teachers and provide an option for current Tier IV employees to convert their defined compensation plan to the new pension system. The proposed program is substantially different from Alaska's prior pension retirement. Actuarial analysis shows that the new program is affordable, particularly when including the cost of training new employees related to the higher turnover that we currently experience without a pension retirement option.

An important consideration in building a strong economy is how Alaska competes with other states in recruiting and retaining the employees who perform our essential services. Alaska is facing challenges hiring in all departments, from public safety to the road maintenance to public schools.

Alaska is the only state that does not offer a pension plan to public employees. With lower salaries than some states in the Northwest and a weaker retirement plan, Alaska is having difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified employees. Alaska’s workforce crisis is making it difficult for the State to provide the basic, constitutionally-required public services. Improving our retirement plan for public employees is an important part of addressing the recruiting and retention challenges in Alaska and building a strong economy.

Following passage in the Senate, SB 88 moves to the House for its consideration. The first House committee to hear the bill is the House State Affairs Committee.

Governor Dunleavy's Executive Orders

The Alaska Constitution grants the Governor a limited power to change law outside of the traditional legislative process. Under Article 3, Section 23 of the Constitution of the State of Alaska, "the governor is given authority to issue executive orders (EOs) that makes changes in the organization of the executive branch or in the assignment of its functions among its units which he considers necessary for efficient administration." Executive orders must be restrained to the reorganization of state departments, boards, and commissions. The governor cannot use an executive order to make new law. That power is reserved for the legislature.

Last month, Governor Dunleavy introduced 12 executive orders. Before this session, Alaska's governors had issued a total of 123 executive orders. Governor Dunleavy's twelve new executive orders is 10% of all executive orders Alaska Governors have ever introduced to the Alaska State Legislature. Under Article 3, Section 23, if the legislature does not approve of an executive order, it has 60 days to disapprove of that executive order in a joint session.

Several of the Governor's executive orders abolish State boards or commissions, including the Board of Midwives, state park management councils, and the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers. Volunteers serve on many of these boards and councils. They coordinate with state departments to help make management decisions and address consumer protection concerns. In many of the executive orders, the governor highlights "efficiency" as a reason for the order. By eliminating volunteer boards and commissions, some of the executive orders will consolidate decision-making power in the executive branch. While the proposed changes may expedite decision-making, legislators and the public are asking whether it will limit public engagement in important management decisions that affect all Alaskans.

Legislative committees in both the House and Senate are reviewing all twelve executive orders as we move forward.

To view the full list of the governor's executive orders, please click here.

Reminder: It's time to submit CAPSIS requests!

Every year, the legislature uses the Legislative Finance Capital Project Submission and Information System (CAPSIS) to allow communities and potential grant recipients to submit capital project requests to their legislators. To read more about the Capital Budget and CAPSIS, click here.

CAPSIS is open online to enter capital projects and key information about them. We encourage community members to work with their community councils to identify capital projects or get in touch with our office about specific capital projects.

The deadline for project submissions is Friday, February 23rd. For more information about when and where your community council meets, see our Community Events section below or visit the Federation of Community Council's website here.

Our office contact for CAPSIS requests is Breanna Kakaruk. Please contact her with any questions or requests. Her direct office number is 907-465-4904 and her email is Breanna.Kakaruk@akleg.gov.

Department of Revenue 2023 Fall Revenue Forecast

The Fall 2023 Revenue Sources Book includes the Department of Revenue's (DOR) fall forecast of oil price, oil production, and state revenue, and incorporates the most recent information about revenue collections, oil markets, investment markets, and federal funding.

For more information and to see other DOR reports, please visit their website: https://tax.alaska.gov/

Community Information

Anchorage Park Foundation Grants

Anchorage Park Foundation is seeking proposals from community organizations for two separate grant opportunities - the Community Challenge Grant and the Neighborhood Forest Grant. These grant opportunities are open now until March 20.

For more information and to apply, visit https://anchorageparkfoundation.org/grants/

Community Events

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events:

5th Annual Bettye Davis African American Summit

When: Saturday, February 10, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Where: Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School

The Alaska Black Caucus will host the 5th annual Bettye Davis African American Summit with the theme of “Marching till Equity, Equality and Justice is Won!” February is Black History Month and throughout the month, there are opportunities around the state to learn more about African Americans’ contributions to Alaska, celebrate achievements, and work toward greater equity and justice for all Alaskans.

A highlight of Black History Month is the Alaska Black Caucus Bettye Davis African American Summit. The Summit provides a forum for the Black community to educate policy makers and the public about the issues facing BIPOC people and the solutions we want to see. The Summit addresses critical issues of public policy in the areas of economics, justice, education, and health. It is the principal gathering place, ideas generator, and a voice for the Black community in Alaska.

Thank you to the Alaska Black Caucus for hosting and sharing this event!

Sand Lake Community Council

When: Monday, February 12th from 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Where: In person at Sand Lake Elementary School (7500 Jewel Lake Rd). Click here for details.

Bayshore/Klatt Community Council

When: Thursday, February 15th starting at 7:00 PM

Where: Hybrid. In person at Bayshore Clubhouse (3131 Amber Bay Loop) or via Zoom. Click here for details.

Spenard Community Council

When: Wednesday, March 6th from 7:00 to 8:00 PM

Where: In person at Spenard Recreation Center (2020 W 48th Ave). Click here for more information.

Turnagain Community Council

When: Thursday, March 7th, from 6:30 to 9:00 PM

Where: Online only via Zoom. Click here for more information.

Westchester Family Skate

When: Saturdays in January and February 1-3 PM

Where: Westchester Lagoon

Ready to help Anchorage GLIDE into winter? If so, consider volunteering at the Westchester Lagoon Family Skate and make this fun, family event unforgettable! We need your help with setup, skate distribution, slinging hot chocolate, and more! To volunteer or learn more, visit this page.

Ski 4 Kids

When: Saturday, February 17, 2:00-5:00 PM

Where: Kincaid Park

Help instill a love of skiing and the outdoors by volunteering at the one-day outdoor Ski 4 Kids festival on Saturday, February 17th, 2024! We are seeking volunteers to help with registration, ensure young skiers don't crash on the obstacle course, and to pass out hot chocolate! Click here for details.