Protecting Your Rights: Serving Sand Lake, Spenard and Turnagain

February 7, 2020

In this issue:

• Governor Proposes Supplemental Budget

• Governor Releases K-12 Funding

• 2020 Census Update

• Community Events

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week, the Governor released his supplemental budget bill. As we consider the supplemental budget, the House Majority continues to work diligently to finish the budget in 90 days.

Governor Proposes Supplemental Budget

On February 4, Governor Dunleavy requested a $262.5 million supplemental budget for FY2020 to address last year's costly wildfire season and Medicaid expenses that surpassed the administration's 2019 proposed budget.

Here is a brief breakdown of the appropriations requested for supplemental state funds:

$128 million for Medicaid Services
$110.5 million for Fire Suppression Activity
$3 million for infrastructure repairs from the November 2018 Earthquake
$12.05 million for Alaska Marine Highway System vessel overhaul and operations
$6.7 million to hire new Alaska State Troopers, Wildlife Troopers, and purchase public safety equipment
$1 million for the Pioneer Home Payment Assistance Program
$6 million for the Alaska Psychiatric Institute

In addition to the $262.5 million request for state funds, the governor's office requested $245.4 million in federal funding, bringing his total supplemental request to $507.9 million. Following the governor's budget request, the Legislature will now consider whether to approve the entire supplemental budget or certain parts of it.

Governor Releases One-Time Grant Funding to K-12 Schools

Following a successful lawsuit by the Alaska Legislature, the Dunleavy Administration on Friday afternoon announced the release of $30 million in grant funding for K-12 public schools that the governor had previously refused to distribute.

The Alaska Superior Court found that the funding was properly allocated, as the Legislature included the item in the budget in 2018 and Gov. Bill Walker signed the funds into law. The intent of both the governor and the legislature in 2018 was to allow school districts to adjust their budgets for inflation in the coming year. Withholding the funds would have caused devastating cuts and the loss of hundreds of educators from our school system.

I support the stability and certainty provided by the legislature's decision to forward fund public education in 2018 and support the legislature moving forward to resolve this important issue about the constitutional authority of the legislature. Teachers and staff can now move forward with confidence that the resources are there to meet classroom needs.

For more detailed explanations about the origins of the lawsuit, take a look at our May 17, 2019 newsletter, May 30, 2019 newslette r, and November 11, 2019 newsletter.

2020 Census: 10 Questions. 10 Minutes. 10 Years of Impact.

The 2020 US Census officially commenced on January 21 in the rural Alaska village of Toksook Bay. Residents of Anchorage and other large Alaska cities, however, will not be counted until mid-March of this year.

The Census count, which is mandated by the United States Constitution and started in 1790, occurs once every 10 years. Data from the count determines how much federal funding will be allocated to local, municipal, and state-wide programs in Alaska that support everything from schools to public safety to healthcare.

The data from the Census count is also used to redraw legislative districts, enforce provisions of the Voting Rights Act, and inform private sector policy. While some are skeptical of the census process and are concerned about possible privacy intrusions, Foraker Group President Laurie Wolf says there are three key things to keep in mind about the Census:

It is completely confidential. It is illegal for the Census Bureau to disclose individuals’ information to immigration enforcement agencies and law enforcement agencies or to use it to determine eligibility for government benefits. Those who wrongfully disclose Census information face a penalty of up to $250,000 in fines and 5 years imprisonment.
It is easy to complete. This year’s Census survey will have fewer questions than the PFD application.
It is critical. For Alaska alone, $3.2 billion of annual federal funding is on the line. Keep in mind, nonprofits directly receive 18% of this funding.

How you can get involved:

Connect with your local Complete Count Committee.
Apply for a Mini-Grant. Alaska Counts offers mini-grants up to $250 to conduct local census outreach in your community.
Educate and encourage people in your community to take part in the count.
Nonprofits play an important role in outreach. If you are in the nonprofit sector, consider this Census toolkit designed specifically for nonprofits.
Consider spreading the word by hanging one of the Alaska Counts posters in your office, or sharing one of their published fact sheets on social media.

Community Events

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

Sand Lake Community Council

When: Monday, February 10 at 6:30 PM

Where: Sand Lake Elementary School Library Room

Facebook event page

Jewel Lake Jamboree

The 32nd annual Jewel Lake Jamboree is this weekend. The event is hosted by The Bait Shack, in partnership with Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game, and sponsored by the Alaska Sport Fishing Association!

This free, all-ages ice fishing event is open to the public. Resident anglers age 18 and over and Non-Resident anglers age 16 and over are required to have a current 2020 State of Alaska Sport Fishing License. Fishing Licenses will be available for purchase at the event.

Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game will provide limited sets of ice fishing gear for anglers to use for free. The week prior, the lake is stocked with coho salmon and ice holes are drilled for kids' fishing week. ADF&G staff will also be on site to offer assistance to community members.

When: Saturday, February 8 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Where: Jewel Lake Park, 4401 W Dimond Blvd.

For more information and to RSVP, visit the Facebook event page.