Budgets and Bills
The annual budget should represent important priorities.
“The governor shall submit to the legislature, at a time fixed by law, a budget for the next fiscal year setting forth all proposed expenditures and anticipated income of all departments, offices, and agencies of the State. The governor, at the same time, shall submit a general appropriation bill to authorize the proposed expenditures, and a bill or bills covering recommendations in the budget for new or additional revenues.” - Article IX, Section 12 of the Constitution of the State of Alaska
Unpacking the budget process
On December 15, 2022, Governor Dunleavy introduced his FY24 Proposed Budget. Arguably, the Governor’s budget had some major missing components and with the introduction of his amended budget, which added $400 million in expenditures, we clearly saw some holes in needed funding.
Something not included in the Governor’s budget proposal is the “fast-track” supplemental budget, which passed the Alaska State Legislature this week. That budget appropriates $8.4 million to address the SNAP and Medicaid backlogs and needed funds for both the Office of Public Advocacy and the Public Defender Agency.
Budgets are interesting things. They are living documents that clearly articulate what is most important to us, and let’s be frank here people, we’re falling down on the job. I’m hopeful we’ll get back on track, but it’s beyond concerning that the current operating budget lacks resources for Alaskans experiencing disabilities, defunds the Imagination Library, and has a $400 million dollar deficit that requires us to dip into savings.
Other than introducing an ill-informed statewide sales tax bill, the House Majority has yet to recommend any real pathway toward increasing revenues to ensure the State of Alaska is able to meet its constitutional obligations and invest in things like the marine highway, K-12 education, and address deferred maintenance at our public university.
So what comes next? Earlier today, the House Finance Committee concluded deliberations on the state’s operating budget. Once the budget report is read on the floor of the House, they will have 24 hours before any real additional action can be taken.
Interestingly, the House’s work on the operating budget historically coincides with the Senate’s work on the capital budget; however, in recent years this has not been the case. At this point in time, it is unclear when the Senate will close out its capital budget. I suspect the Senate Finance Committee will take a similar action as in recent years and combine the FY 2024 Operating Budget, the FY 2024 Capital Budget, and the FY 2024 Supplemental Budget into a single budget bill. If you want to find out more, the Legislative Finance Division website contains a plethora of information about the operating budget process. Please stay tuned in as the budget process continues in the coming weeks.
Kayla’s Corner
Dear Friend or Neighbor,
A brisk walk, a daily delight, or a dangerous stumble waiting to happen? What can be done to make sure the Fireweed Lane makeover provides the best “constitutional” (also known as “a regular walk”)?
Fireweed Lane, once a two-lane road, is now a four-lane danger zone that includes two elementary schools, a high school, and a residential shelter for the homeless who are medically frail. Thought needs to go into its upgrade because canes, walkers, bikes, strollers, and wheelchairs navigate poorly around obstacles located on the sidewalk. Rain muck splashes from the gutters onto anyone on the walkways in spring and in the winter snow, pushed by the snowplows, blocks sidewalks, and bus stops. Other hazards include poor lighting, intersections without clear markings, and crossing buttons incorrectly placed and/or timed for pedestrians at stoplights. All these monsters need taming and only with interest and planning will they.
This problem threatens all those not in a car or truck. Recently, the Anchorage Daily News ran a front-page story about Rodger Wilber who couldn’t use his wheelchair on the uneven icy, snow-covered sidewalks and so he traveled on the roads. His wheelchair was hit by a car. He survived, but the crash totaled his electric wheelchair.
This winter, neighbor Karel Atkinson, 84, walked in the street from her home to the Barnes and Noble bookstore. She found it disconcerting but she made it there and back without incident. It was last summer when she was injured. Last 4th of July, Karel was walking to the Delaney Park Strip, she looked up to see police cars roaring by and tripped on a large break in the sidewalk. Luckily she only broke her nose, had a forehead bump, and scraped skin. This was fortunate because it could have been so much worse. Falls are the number one cause of injury-related hospitalization and deaths for those greater than 65 years of age. This incident prompted those who live nearby, who had seen many falls from the same sidewalk split, to paint all the breaks on their street orange.
I was happy to learn Fireweed Lane, long overdue for an upgrade, has finally moved toward the top of the list for an Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS). Lounsbury and Associates won the bid and construction is scheduled to begin in 2027. Considered a “rehabilitation,” the purpose is to bring the road up to the current safety standards of a “complete street.” This includes safe walking and biking paths, appropriate parking, exits/entrances for businesses, and snow storage. To facilitate this and other improvements and amenities the sidewalks and bike lanes are increasing and the driving area will be reduced to two lanes.
Many of the changes are meant to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. The sidewalk will be widened, and the street incline on the sidewalk will become more gradual. For the visually impaired, textured tiles will announce curb ramps at corners. Other improvements include structural section repairs, drainage improvements, utility adjustments or relocations, upgraded or rehabilitated signals, lighting, traffic recording equipment, and clearing vegetation as needed. A splash zone and other changes will make it easier to store and remove snow.
Walking is good exercise for any age but particularly for the young and the old. To make taking a walk more convenient for seniors, benches and shade trees are helpful. Many find exercise boring; however people of all ages will walk regularly if they can get to places of interest, like coffee shops, banks, grocery stores, or the post office. Pedestrian traffic is good for local businesses and makes for a better, safer neighborhood. AMATS will soon be taking public input on the project. Please take the time to comment.
I hope you made it through the winter without incident and that you will enjoy the spring and summer ahead.
Kayla