2025 Budget Approved

Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

July 3, 2024

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Last week, the Governor approved the FY 2025 operating and capital budgets, which included his FY 2025 line-item budget vetoes. The vetoes include cuts to public education, public safety, and public health services. Below, we discuss his vetoes, the final budget, the Alaska Supreme Court's correspondence school ruling, and 4th of July events.

We wish everyone a sunny and safe Fourth of July!

Budget Update

Governor's Line-Item Vetoes

The Governor signed the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget on Friday. The Governor's FY 2025 Operating and Capital budgets included more than $230 million total in vetoed funding. The Governor approved a $175 million one-time increase in public education funding. Below is a summary of the Governor's line-item vetoes:

Education

Education Funding to align with U.S. Department of Education's Maintenance of Equity requirement: defunded — $11,900,000
Grants to improve internet connectivity for Alaska public schools: defunded — $11,000,000
Early Education Head Start: defunded — $2,600,000
University of Alaska Capital projects in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kodiak, and Juneau: defunded — $13,000,000
Vocational programs in the Department of Corrections: defunded — $720,000

Snow Plowing

Snowplow operator recruitment: defunded — $1,300,000
New snow storage site: defunded — $250,000

Public Safety

Public Radio Emergency Communications: defunded — $1,200,000

Public Health

South Central Foundation Crisis Intervention Center: defunded — $2,500,000
Community-Based Grants at the Department of Health: defunded — $1,500,000

Statewide Services

Alaska Legal Services: defunded — $200,000
Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute: defunded — $10,00,000
Alaska Long Trail projects around Anchorage: defunded — $1,000,000

Senate District H Capital Funding

The Capital budget included allocations for West Anchorage improvements. Below are projects our office included in the Capital budget that the Governor approved:

Senate District H Residential Pavement Rehabilitation: $2,537,250
100th Avenue & Victor Road Intersection Safety Improvements: $500,000
Alaska Long Trail for Flattop Safety Realignment: $500,000

We requested $98,425 to the Anchorage Park Foundation for Laine Fleischer Chester Creek Park and Trail Enhancements, but the Governor vetoed this neighborhood project.

To view the final FY 2025 budgets, all Governor's vetoes, and supporting documents, please visit the Office of Management and Budget website available here.

Alaska Correspondence School Ruling

Article 7, Section 1 of the Alaska Constitution states: "No money shall be paid from public funds for the direct benefit of any religious or other private educational institution." In April, Superior Court Judge Adolf Zeman struck down an Alaska law allowing families to spend state school allotment funds on private and religious schools. The State of Alaska appealed that ruling to the Alaska Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments last Thursday.

The State argued that the lawsuit was incorrectly brought against the Department of Early Education and Development (DEED). Since individual school districts oversee correspondence fund spending, the State argued that the case should have included one or more school districts. The State also argued that the entirety of the correspondence school statute (AS 14.03.300-.310) should not be thrown out, but rather, the superior court should consider specific potentially unconstitutional applications of the statute.

On Friday, the Court ruled in favor of the State of Alaska and reversed the Superior Court decision. The Court agreed that the statute in question is not unconstitutional on its face because public school allotment money allocated under the statute can be used to purchase constitutionally-allowed educational items, including classes at public universities or school supplies.

The Supreme Court declined to rule on the constitutionality of using Alaska's correspondence allotment program to pay for full-time enrollment in a private educational institution. The Supreme Court sent the case back to the Superior Court to make these determinations in what's called an "as-applied" challenge, which would require the plaintiffs to add a school district as party to the case.

The decision upholds the status quo for students currently enrolled in correspondence and homeschools across Alaska. The case now returns to the Superior Court for further proceedings.

To read the Supreme Court's full opinion, it is available here.

Juneteenth State Holiday

Signed Into Law

Last week, I attended the bill signing with Senator Gray-Jackson and other advocates.

Last week, the governor signed Senate Bill 22 to officially recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday. On June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing the end of the Civil war and freedom for all enslaved people. According to Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, who sponsored the bill, “Juneteenth represents a critical moment in our history, a day of liberation and a reminder of the enduring strength and contributions of Black Americans. By making Juneteenth an official state holiday, we honor this legacy and commit to continuing the fight for equality and justice."

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Fourth of July! Thursday marks the 248th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the United States Continental Congress. Every year, we celebrate the rights that our nation is built on: Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and the belief that all men -- and all people -- are created equal.

Whether you're barbequing in the backyard, attending the Anchorage parade, or watching the fireworks, we hope you have a safe and joyful Fourth of July.

Community Information & Events

Alaska Trails Volunteer Opportunities

When: Saturdays in July

Where: Various locations in the Chugach State Park

Want to help maintain Alaska's most visited state park and spend some time working outside? This summer, Alaska Trails is hosting various volunteer opportunities for trail work throughout Anchorage and Chugach State Park. Check out these opportunities to volunteer, and sign up here!

July 29, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Russian Jack Mountain Bike Trail Construction

July 6th, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Near Point Trail via Wolverine Bowl

July 13th, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, South Fork Hanging Valley Trail

July 13th, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Whittier Horsetail Falls Connector

July 20th, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM, Turnagain Pass

July 24th, 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM, Hemlock Knob Trail

To learn more and sign up for a volunteer day, visit this link.

4th of July Festival

When: Thursday, July 4th 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Where: Delaney Park Strip

Anchorage's 4th of July Festival will take place on the Delaney Park Strip (between E and I Street) on Thursday, July 4th starting at 10am. This event is family friendly and free to the public!

This festival will be filled with carnival rides and games, food trucks, community/craft/farmers vendors, live music, beer garden (21+), and more!

4th of July's Parade will be at 11am.

Alaska Baseball League 4th of July Doubleheader and Fireworks

When: Thursday, July 4th, first game starting at 7:00 PM

Where: Mulcahy Baseball Stadium

Happy Independence Day! Bring the whole family and celebrate the 4th of July at the ballpark with a Pilots doubleheader! The first game starts at 7PM, gates open at 5:30! The firework show will start at the end of the second game. General Admission tickets are $10 and are available at the gate.

As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,