Alaska state budget

Infographics: Alaska’s 2019 Budget

Infographics: Alaska’s 2019 Budget

How we pay for it and how we spend it.

 

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline. (Photo/File/AP)

North Slope oil dips below break-even level

The trend may reverse itself soon.

 

An unused sexual assault evidence kit, colloquially known as a “rape kit,” is seen Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire file) An unused sexual assault evidence kit, colloquially known as a “rape kit,” is seen Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire file)

Department of Public Safety proposes permanent fix for rape evidence kit backlog

Testing all of the kits is expected to take years.

 

State departments have an eye toward budget hikes

State departments have an eye toward budget hikes

Legislative and governor candidates have vowed across the state to further cut Alaska’s budget, but many state departments drafting their budget requests for the coming… Continue reading

State departments have an eye toward budget hikes
Alaska lawmakers likely won’t vote on pay before election

Alaska lawmakers likely won’t vote on pay before election

Lawmakers are considering a proposal to reduce their expense payments, but they are not likely to vote on the proposal before the Nov. 6 general election.

Alaska lawmakers likely won’t vote on pay before election
Mainframe Operator Will Muldoon lifts 500 freshly printed Permanent Fund Dividend checks from the printer at the state’s secure printing facility in Juneau on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Check it out: Permanent Fund Dividend checks flow from printers this week

With the soft sound of smoothly operating electronics, workers in the State Office Building are printing money. This week, the thousands of paper checks that… Continue reading

Mainframe Operator Will Muldoon lifts 500 freshly printed Permanent Fund Dividend checks from the printer at the state’s secure printing facility in Juneau on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Judge sets date in case of billion-dollar oil lawsuit

Judge sets date in case of billion-dollar oil lawsuit

Sitka judge will hear arguments on a lawsuit with billion-dollar implications for Alaska.

Judge sets date in case of billion-dollar oil lawsuit
Starved for recruits, Alaska police pin blame on retirement system

Starved for recruits, Alaska police pin blame on retirement system

They’re battling an opioid epidemic, rising crime, slashed budgets and thinned ranks. Now, they’re fighting the state’s retirement system, too. Across the state, troopers, police… Continue reading

Starved for recruits, Alaska police pin blame on retirement system
Fish fight fills forum

Fish fight fills forum

The question in November is about Ballot Measure 1, but the question in the room was something different: Who’s more Alaskan? In front of a… Continue reading

Fish fight fills forum
Angela Rodell, Executive Director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, speaks about the positive results of the fund this year at the APFC office on Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska Permanent Fund continues to beat market, but returns drop slightly from last year

The investment managers at the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation have once again beaten the market.

Angela Rodell, Executive Director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, speaks about the positive results of the fund this year at the APFC office on Thursday, July 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Eric Forrer, left, and Joe Geldhof, right, have sued the state of Alaska in an attempt to stop a plan that calls for borrowing up to $1 billion from global bond markets to pay oil and gas tax credits owed by the state. They are pictured May 22, 2018 in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska pauses plan to borrow $1 billion for oil-company payouts

State officials confirmed Tuesday that a billion-dollar bond issue is on hold amid a pending lawsuit by two Juneau men.

Eric Forrer, left, and Joe Geldhof, right, have sued the state of Alaska in an attempt to stop a plan that calls for borrowing up to $1 billion from global bond markets to pay oil and gas tax credits owed by the state. They are pictured May 22, 2018 in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire File)
Eric Forrer, left, and Joe Geldhof, right, have sued the state of Alaska in an attempt to stop a plan that calls for borrowing up to $1 billion from global bond markets to pay oil and gas tax credits owed by the state. They are pictured May 22, 2018 in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska pauses plan to borrow $1 billion for oil-company payouts

State officials confirmed Tuesday that a billion-dollar bond issue is on hold amid a pending lawsuit by two Juneau men. The bonds, authorized by the… Continue reading

Eric Forrer, left, and Joe Geldhof, right, have sued the state of Alaska in an attempt to stop a plan that calls for borrowing up to $1 billion from global bond markets to pay oil and gas tax credits owed by the state. They are pictured May 22, 2018 in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire File)
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker signs state spending bills during a ceremony Wednesday at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Walker did perform some line-item vetoes, including rejecting funding for a bridge project that would link Anchorage to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and a Vitamin D deficiency study. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Analysis: Alaska Gov. Bill Walker signs deficit-slashing budget, but ‘shadow deficit’ remains

On Wednesday in Anchorage, Gov. Bill Walker signed a $10.4 billion state operating budget, a $1.5 billion capital construction and renovation budget, a mental health… Continue reading

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker signs state spending bills during a ceremony Wednesday at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Walker did perform some line-item vetoes, including rejecting funding for a bridge project that would link Anchorage to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and a Vitamin D deficiency study. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Walker keeps funding for Juneau Access but nixes money for Anchorage bridge

Gov. Bill Walker declined to veto additional money for the Juneau Access Project, but he did nix funding for another Alaska road-building project before signing… Continue reading

Eric Forrer, left, and Joe Geldhof, right, have sued the state of Alaska in an attempt to stop a plan that calls for borrowing up to $1 billion from global bond markets to pay oil and gas tax credits owed by the state. They are pictured May 22, 2018 in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

‘You have to fight these things:’ Why two Juneau men are standing in the way of the Alaska Legislature, Gov. Bill Walker and a billion-dollar debt

The odds are not in their favor. The State of Alaska is against them. So is Gov. Bill Walker. The Alaska Legislature doesn’t side with… Continue reading

Eric Forrer, left, and Joe Geldhof, right, have sued the state of Alaska in an attempt to stop a plan that calls for borrowing up to $1 billion from global bond markets to pay oil and gas tax credits owed by the state. They are pictured May 22, 2018 in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
Lawmakers approve legislation, funding to test backlog of rape kits

Lawmakers approve legislation, funding to test backlog of rape kits

An effort to solve a backlog of untested evidence from rape cases across Alaska received a major boost from the Alaska Legislature this week, but… Continue reading

Lawmakers approve legislation, funding to test backlog of rape kits
A road north of Juneau would have to negotiate the steep terrain of the east side of Lynn Canal, pictured here in a February 2014 Juneau Empire file photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau Access money stays in Alaska’s capital budget

A proposal to transfer $21.3 million into the accounts of the Juneau Access project stayed within the state’s $1.5 billion capital construction and renovation budget,… Continue reading

A road north of Juneau would have to negotiate the steep terrain of the east side of Lynn Canal, pictured here in a February 2014 Juneau Empire file photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Alaska State Capitol is seen on May 10, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Alaska hospitals, nursing homes face budget gap in Legislature’s bill

Alaska’s Medicaid program may run out of money as soon as the second week of June, leaving doctors, hospitals and nursing homes with unpaid bills… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol is seen on May 10, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
Alaska Legislature adjourns after passing $10.4 billion operating budget

Alaska Legislature adjourns after passing $10.4 billion operating budget

The Alaska Legislature adjourned its 2018 session just before 2 a.m. Sunday morning after passing a $10.4 billion state operating budget that funds ferries, health… Continue reading

Alaska Legislature adjourns after passing $10.4 billion operating budget
The Alaska State Capitol is seen on May 10, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Alaska lawmakers near deal to finish budget, may adjourn session soon

House and Senate negotiators reached a breakthrough compromise on the state’s operating budget Thursday, approving a $10.5 billion spending plan for the coming fiscal year.… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol is seen on May 10, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)