Report: Former mayor did not report shortfall

ANCHORAGE - A report by the Anchorage city attorney finds that former mayor Mark Begich did not report a known budget shortfall to the Anchorage Assembly.

The report says Begich knew that the shortfall would impact city finances but did not inform the Assembly before it approved the 2009 budget and labor union contracts.

The report was done by municipal attorney Dennis Wheeler.

Begich - now a U.S. senator - says throughout his terms as mayor the Assembly was fully apprised of all financial information. He says the report is an effort by mayor Dan Sullivan's administration - in concert with a handful of Assembly members - to tarnish the record of his administration when he was mayor.