Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Monday vetoed more than $200 million of the budget of the state, which includes half of the funds the Legislature would like to use as a one-time boost in the funding for public schools.
In an announcement the governor did not mention the $87.5 million cut in school funding. It’s the biggest of a plethora of the vetoes. The spokesman for the governor said there was no time to give an interview.
Senator. Forrest Dunbar, D-Anchorage Sen. Forrest Dunbar, D-Anchorage, is concerned by the loss of funding that he claimed had been rumored to be happening for the past week. He noted that schools have received an unchanging budget for the past six years, while also absorbing the largest costs of inflation.
“We must increase the funding for education, and what Dunleavy has done today reverses the process, which will affect education in Alaska and is likely to result in significant cuts in programs and maybe an increase in population losses,” Dunbar said.
Districts from across the state have lobbied for increased funds, arguing that without an increase in base allocation of students they’d have to reduce core programs or in cases like Anchorage some schools could close.
An attempt to increase the formula-based funding did not prove effective, however the Legislature did approve one-time school funding increases in the amount of $175million.
Senator. Dunbar also took issue with the vetoes scheduled for the 19th of June the 19th, which he views as an insult to those who work to make Juneteenth an essential American day to remember the anniversary of freedom.
The Senate could possess enough support to block the cuts on school funds. A bill that would increase the formula for public education to $680 per pupil passed through the Senate in May with the unanimous vote 16-3.
“However I’m worried that there won’t there will be sufficient House Republicans ready to override Governor’s veto,” Dunbar said.
Dunleavy’s spokesman Jeff Turner, said in an email that the cut leaves schools with an increase of $87 million.
“The governor’s announcement recognizes the need for schools to tackle inflationary pressures, while also conserving general fund funds,” Turner said.
Dunleavy’s 46 line item the vetoes also include cuts to education including $20 million to the UAA campus as well as the $10 million needed for large maintenance projects and $5 million to The Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program and $3.5 million for Head Start. Other than the education sector, Dunleavy cut $30 million from the fund for community assistance as well as 10 million dollars from the state ferry services as well as funds for various harbor and road projects.
