Gov. Mike Dunleavy and his administration released a proposed budget Friday, Dec. 11. (Courtesy Photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

Dunleavy proposes budget for ‘unprecedented’ times

Budget, bonds and amendments proposed to kickstart economy

Gov. Mike Dunleavy and members of his administration Friday released a proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2022 meant to reinvigorate Alaska’s economy after being “hammered” by the coronavirus pandemic. The governor proposed a reduced budget, roughly $5,000 in permanent fund dividends and $300 million or more in infrastructure bonds.

“Our economy is in trouble, folks are out of work, businesses are desperate,” Dunleavy said Friday at an Anchorage news conference. “We have to get our economy off its knees and on its feet.”

[Dunleavy: PFD checks are going out early]

Dunleavy said getting money into the hands of Alaska is essential to kick-starting the economy and proposed a supplemental Permanent Fund Dividend of $1,916 for Fiscal Year 2021 and a dividend of $3,056 for the next fiscal year.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The governor’s plan relies on a $3.1 billion transfer from the Earnings Reserve Account of the Permanent Fund for both 2021 and 2022. Between continued growth of the fund and continued low oil prices, the Permanent Fund transfer is now the state’s largest source of revenue, contributing 65% of unrestricted general fund revenue in the past fiscal year and projected to contribute at least 67% for each of the next 10 years, according to a Department of Revenue news release.

Such a large draw from the ERA is not something he expects to become normal for his administration, Dunleavy said, but said the pandemic had created extraordinary circumstances both for the state and globally.

In addition to the budget, Dunleavy said he intends to introduce legislation for $300-350 million in general obligation bonds for yet-to-be-determined infrastructure projects to be put to a vote in a special election. The governor said he also wants to put three constitutional amendments to a vote of the people — a government spending cap, a vote of the people for all new taxes and an established formula for the PFD.

[Dunleavy backs off cuts, looks to Legislature to rework state spending]

The budget proposes $4.3 billion in unrestricted general fund spending, a roughly 5% decrease from last year.

The $294 million in reductions to state departments were all carefully made in consultation with staff and commissioners, said Neil Steininger, director of the Office of Management and Budget.

“We worked with every commission in every department to determine where those efficiencies could be made,” Steininger said.

The governor’s proposals did not decrease spending for many state programs, but also didn’t add any additional requested funds to entities affected by the pandemic which requested them. University of Alaska President Pat Pitney said in a statement she would advocate to the Legislature for additional funding for deferred maintenance in the capital budget.

Dunleavy said he wants to have a conversation with lawmakers and Alaskans about how the state should be managed, and the three constitutional amendments are a way to bring a permanent solution to intractable political issues like the size of the PFD.

“Legislators don’t have to go to the people for taxes, and they don’t have to. But I think they should,” Dunleavy said. “Because we’re governing on the people’s behalf. We shouldn’t take a position that you can do things to people.”

House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, in a statement criticized the governor for reductions to public schools and for taking such a large transfer from the Permanent Fund.

“The governor’s proposal calls for spending $3 billion more than what the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation considers sustainable, and there is no plan for how we will make ends meet beyond next year,” Edgmon said. “However, the inclusion of a general obligation bond package is promising.”

Presented to the public correctly, the governor said he believed the people of Alaska would approve bonding for infrastructure projects. If rejected, that would be the will of the people, Dunleavy said. The governor said he hoped his budget would be a tool to help turn Alaska’s economy around.

“We’re all in this together,” he said. “It’s an extraordinary time, it’s going to take us all working together.”

The proposed budget and additional information can be found at OMB’s website, www.omb.alaska.gov.

• Contact reporter Peter Segall at psegall@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @SegallJnuEmpire.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of March 16

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

A map of Alaska shows the three Social Security Administration field offices in Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks. (Google Maps)
Social Security may cut phone support, force Alaskans online or to Juneau, Anchorage or Fairbanks

Reports: About 40% of claims handed by phone nationwide, 60,000 rural Alaskans lack broadband.

Rep. Jeremy Bynum, R-Ketchikan, speaks Feb. 21, 2025, on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska legislators ask feds to reinstate program that sent money to rural schools

The Alaska House of Representatives is asking Congress to fix a problem… Continue reading

An aerial view of downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Local federal workers get mixed messages about returning to jobs after firings rescinded

DOT worker says he’s supposed to resume work Thursday; Forest Service worker says status still unclear.

A storage shed on Meadow Lane catches fire Monday morning. (Photo by Chelsea Stonex)
Storage shed fire spreads to two vehicles, causing explosion, but no injuries reported

Two homes on Meadow Lane suffer broken windows and other damage, according to CCFR.

A 2.9-acre plot of land donated to Huna Totem Corp. by Norwegian Cruise Line is the site for the proposed Aak’w Landing private cruise ship dock. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Amendments to Huna Totem’s proposed private cruise dock to be taken up Monday night by the Assembly

A dozen proposals seek limits on ship size, fines for violations, setting various operational goals.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Saturday, March 15, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Friday, March 14, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Thursday, March 13, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read