Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

December 16, 2025

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

It's the most wonderful time of the year! In these busy weeks between major holidays, we hope you're enjoying the activities that make this season bright. If Christmas trees are a part of your holiday celebrations, read on to learn about how to legally harvest a tree near Anchorage.

Another important event that occurs every year in December is the release of the Governor's budget. The Governor's proposed budget marks the beginning of the budget process that funds our essential services including public safety, public education, and public health.

Governor Dunleavy Releases FY2027 Budget

Last week, Governor Dunleavy released his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027, which begins on July 1, 2026. The Governor's budget consists of the operating budget, which will fund ongoing state services, and the capital budget, which funds one-time infrastructure requests for things like road and transportation improvements. This budget marks the starting point in the budget process: the House and Senate Finance committees will spend most of session working on the budget and making amendments before the legislature passes it back to the Governor. At that point, he may choose to make line-item vetoes to reduce funding, but he may not add funding or re-appropriate funding.

The Governor has also submitted a substantial supplemental budget for approval. The supplemental budget will address lower-than-expected revenue for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30th. The decrease in revenue is due to lower oil prices.

The single biggest expense in the Governor’s budget is the Permanent Fund dividend. His budget includes a $3,650 dividend at a total cost of approximately $2.3 billion. This expense will require using over half of our $2.9 billion savings from the Constitutional Budget Reserve to pay the $1.8 billion deficit in the Governor's proposed budget. The Senate Majority will prioritize fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget as we revise this budget.

The following are some of the additional items funded in the Governor's FY27 proposed budget:

$1.4 billion in full statutory funding for K-12 schools
$10 million for the creation of a Department of Agriculture
$40 million for disaster relief
$350 million for public safety
$34 million for fire suppression
$13 million for the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA)
$26 million for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI)
$98 million for behavioral health treatment

The Governor's released budget is just the beginning of the annual budget process. To stay up-to-date with the budget, click her.

Pre-Session Constituent Meeting

Please join our office, Rep. Mia Costello's office, and Rep. Carolyn Hall's office for our West Anchorage pre-session constituent meeting! Light refreshments will be provided.

We would love to hear your questions, concerns, and top priorities before we return to Juneau for our legislative session.

When: January 6, 2026 from 5:00 to 6:00 PM

Where: Anchorage Legislative Information Office (1500 W Benson Blvd)

Senate Joint Resolution 2: Comparing States

Senate Joint Resolution 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to lower the number of votes needed to override a governor's veto of a revenue or appropriation veto from three-quarters (45 votes) to two-thirds (40).

Alaska has one of the highest requirements for overriding a revenue or appropriations veto of any state. Only one other state - Arizona - comes close to such a high override standard for this type of veto. Arizona shares the three-quarters override vote requirement for a vetoed revenue bill, but the Arizona constitution requires only two-thirds of the legislators to override an appropriations item.

The other 48 states have lower override requirements for revenue and appropriation bills. Most states require a two-thirds vote from both legislative chambers to override a gubernatorial veto, seven states require a three-fifths vote, and six states only require a simple majority.

Only a few states differentiate the requirements to override the veto of a revenue bill and the veto of an appropriations bill or item: Arizona, West Virginia, Rhode Island. Arizona and Alaska are the only states that require a vote higher than two-thirds to override a veto of either a revenue or appropriations item.

Alaska's three-quarters override requirement is unusually high. It makes it difficult for the legislature to check the executive branch and harms the balance of power between the branches of government.

→ To read more about polling results on SJR 2, click here.

→ To read more about the history of this constitutional provision, click here.

Capital Project Submissions

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.

The Legislature recently announced that 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 submissions is February 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM.

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.

Community Information

→ Harvest Your Own Christmas Tree on State Land

Each year, many Alaskans enjoy the holiday ritual of cutting their own Christmas tree. To support this tradition, the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection allows for Christmas Tree Cutting on State Land. Each household is limited to one tree, which can be no more than 15 feet high. There are no fees, and a permit is not required.

Maps and information on Christmas tree harvesting are available on the Department of Natural Resources Public Information Center webpage.

Please direct questions to the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection Mat-Su area office at 907-761-6301.

→ Revenue Forecast

Last week, the Department of Revenue released the Fall 2025 Revenue Forecast. It provides a projection of the state revenues and is a collaborative effort among the Department of Revenue and several other state departments and agencies.

Click here to see Revenue Forecasts

→ ANC 2025 Kids Holiday Art Contest

Kids aged 12 and under submitted art entries to the Ted Stevens International Airport Holiday Art Contest this year, now open for public voting until December 19th. If you're traveling this holiday, you can view the holiday and aviation-themed artwork at the airport and vote for your favorite! Winners will be announced on December 23rd. For more information, click here.

Community Events

Solstice Festival

When: Friday, December 19th from 5pm-8pm

Where: Cuddy Family Park

Celebrate the shortest day of the year by enjoying all that winter offers. The Winter Solstice Festival offers activities for everyone. Bring your ice skates for skating around the oval to your favorite holiday music. Take a break by a warm fire while sipping hot chocolate and visiting with friends. Explore the park on a horse-drawn wagon. Get a photo with Santa's reindeer. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Food truck goodies are available for purchase. All the activities are free to the public.

There are limited timeslots for the horse-drawn wagon and the skate assist seals. Make your reservation when you arrive by heading to the activity booth. Reservation cards are available starting at 4:30 pm.

You can also sign up to volunteer at the event. Volunteers are needed to help set up and run the event. Find more information and sign up here.

Learn more about the event here.