Funding for schools was a main issue at a town hall meeting that was held on Thursday in the presence of two representatives from the Juneau legislative delegation. This week, Governor. Mike Dunleavy vetoed half of the one-time $175 million school funding increase for public schools that was that was approved through members of the Alaska Legislature.
The veto was the reason that led Chris Niemi, one of approximately 25 who were present, to the town hall in Yadaa.at Kale Juneau-Douglas High School. Niemi was a former teacher and grandmother of three who will attend schools in Juneau. She would like Alaskans contact their lawmakers, particularly those who are in the House and request for their support to pass an override.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”This impacts families. This affects children that will be our future,” Niemi said afterward. “If they truly love children and families and their families, then they shouldn’t be able to pass the .”
A veto would leave Juneau School District with the deficit of $758,000 and there’s no money in the district’s reserves to pay for that deficit.
Rep. Andi Story acknowledged in the town hall meeting that an override is a huge amount of support. It took 45 of 60 votes within the Alaska Legislature.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”It’s an extremely high level,” Story said. “But I’m aware that at the moment people are blazing the lines and trying to improve the .”
Even if a veto override doesn’t occur, Story said, the veto has put education funding at the forefront of discussion. Both Alaska House and Senate bills that would forever increase the per-student state budget by introducing the base allocation for students (BSA) BSA was passed, putting an end to the session of the House Finance Committee.
” style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”That means that the time we start is January House Finance will be discussing the BSA bills. They will be taking a look at the bills, getting information from districts, and hearing from citizens,” she said. “We are extremely hopeful that we can get in the statute in the near future, a BSA increment .”
Story and Sen. Jesse Kiehl, both Democrats have praised a number of aspects of the budget for this year. Kiehl declared he’s “extremely happy with” $7.5 millions in grants for child care centers.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”That is a major breakthrough,” he said. “After the COVID scandal, we witnessed that with the removal of federal subsidies the child care costs decreasing in an industry where there isn’t enough talent to work. This isn’t an issue with parents It’s an issue with the workforce that is a problem for the economy. .”
The budget also covers the transportation of inmates from and to Juneau in the event that the construction process continues in Lemon Creek Correctional Center, which Kiehl stated will ensure that those who are detained in Juneau are able to appear before the court in Juneau. The budget also includes $175,000 for research on ways it is that the Department of Corrections can reduce suicides among people who are incarcerated.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”The Department of Corrections is the biggest provider of behavioral health services as well as medical services for the people of Alaska,” Kiehl said. “We have a significant problem with suicide in our correctional facilities. .”
Alongside education financing, Kiehl and Story said that giving employees of the public sector the option of contributing to pensions is a constant top priority.
Juneau’s third lawmaker, Rep. Sara Hannan, was not able to attend the town hall on Thursday.
