Protecting Your Rights: Serving Sand Lake, Spenard and Turnagain

February 27, 2020

In this issue:

• Constituent Survey

• House Passes Supplemental Budget

• Anchorage Caucus & Constituent Meeting

• Apply for Your Dividend

• Community Events

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Last week, our Start of Session Newsletter and Constituent Survey arrived in mailboxes! You can complete the survey by hand and mail it to our office, or you can save a stamp and complete our survey online.

Take Our Constituent Survey!

Last week, we launched our electronic Constituent Survey! Please take a moment to share your thoughts and suggestions. I appreciate your feedback!

The survey will remain open until March 6 and we will be sharing the results of this survey next month.

House Passes Supplemental Budget

On Wednesday, the House passed a supplemental budget, House Bill 234, that addresses healthcare expenses the state incurred, the high cost of last summer’s wildfires, and funding shortfalls for essential services including the Alaska Marine Highway System. The bill approves spending $298.6 million of unrestricted general funds and an overall total of $526.2 million of state and federal money. The supplemental budget includes:

$120 million of state funds and $143.4 million of federal funds for Medicaid provider payments, spending necessary due to the governor’s unsuccessful attempt to implement drastic reductions to the Medicaid program;
$110.5 million to pay for wildland firefighting costs incurred last summer and fall;
$8.6 million to restore Adult Public Assistance to ensure payments for low-income Alaskans, which the governor vetoed last year;
$8.3 million to restore the Adult Preventive Dental Program, which the governor vetoed and attempted to eliminate last year;
$7.1 million for the Alaska Marine Highway System to avoid a reduction in the operating schedule for the spring and summer of this year;
$6.7 million for the Department of Public Safety to address a personnel shortfall within the Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Wildlife Troopers;
$6 million to help the Alaska Psychiatric Institute increase its capacity;
$3 million to address the severe damage caused in Anchorage, Kenai, and Mat-Su by the November 2018 earthquake;
$150,000 to re-open the District Attorney’s Office in Utqiagvik.

Thank You for Attending Anchorage Caucus & Mid-Session Constituent Meeting

Thank you to all who took the time last Saturday to attend Anchorage Caucus or our Mid-Session Constituent Meeting to share your thoughts about the legislative session. I always appreciate feedback from my friends and neighbors in Anchorage and the opportunity to discuss the many challenges we face as a state and solutions that serve all Alaskans. Please let us know if you have any other suggestions or concerns.

Apply for Your Dividend Today

The Permanent Fund Dividend application season is January 1st through March 31st each year. All applicants can conveniently file online and electronically sign a Permanent Fund Dividend application.

Pick.Click.Give

Pick.Click.Give. was created by the Alaska State Legislature in 2008 to allow Alaskans filing for their Permanent Fund Dividend online to donate a portion or all of their dividend to eligible charitable and educational organizations. Applicants may choose to contribute to one or more organizations in $25 increments, up to the entire amount of the dividend. Donations are tax deductible and the State of Alaska issues a 1099-MISC, which you can use to report both your Permanent Fund Dividend and charitable contributions to the IRS. The 1099-MISC is available online at pfd.alaska.gov. You can access your 1099-MISC by clicking here.

Permanent Fund Dividend applications are available from January 1 to March 31, though Alaskans may choose to add or adjust their pledges online through August 31. For a list of 623 organizations you can donate to, click here.

Community Events

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

Spenard Community Council

When: Wednesday, March 4 at 7:00 PM

Where: Spenard Recreation Center

Facebook event page

Turnagain Community Council

When: Thursday, March 5 at 7:00 PM

Where: West/Romig Career Technology Center, Room 152

Facebook event page

Sand Lake Community Council

When: Monday, March 16 at 6:30 PM

Where: Sand Lake Elementary School Library Room

Facebook event page

Frostbite Footrace & Costume Fun Run

The Frostbite Footrace offers two opportunities to have fun: The Frostbite Footrace and Fun Run! Open to all ages and athletic abilities, races begin at 9:30 a.m. the first Saturday of Rondy. Finish line timing, results and registration supported by Skinny Raven Sports.

When: Saturday, February 29 from 9:30 – 10:30 AM

Where: The route begins at the 5th Avenue Skywalk (between the Egan Center and the Performing Arts Center) and finishes at 6th Avenue and H Streets.

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