The Alaska House is planning four days of public hearings on the state’s operating budget this week.
The testimony will be divided geographically, with Juneau getting the first opportunity.
According to a schedule released by the House Finance Committee, Juneau residents are invited to testify starting at 4 p.m. Monday. Testimony will be held open until 6 p.m.
Juneauites can visit the Capitol directly to testify; everyone else is being asked to participate via a Legislative Information Office teleconference. Anyone unable to reach an LIO is asked to call 465-4648 to get the call-in number for the meeting. Written testimony can be submitted to lhscfin@akleg.gov.
On Tuesday, Homer, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Mat-Su and Seward residents will have an opportunity starting at 1 p.m. Testimony continues at 3:45 p.m. with Barrow, Dillingham and Fairbanks. Alaskans calling in directly will have an opportunity starting at 6:15 p.m.
On Wednesday, Anchorage, Sitka, Petersburg, Delta Junction, Unalaska, Glennallen and Tok will testify.
On Thursday, Bethel, Cordova, Kotzebue, Nome, Valdez and Wrangell will testify.
The House Finance Committee is expected to approve a final budget late this week or early next week. The full House of Representatives is expected to vote on the budget by March 9, whereupon the budget will go to the Senate for its approval.
