Legislative updates
2009 Legislative Wrap-up
A very special thanks goes out to UAF alumni members and advocates for getting involved and supporting the University of Alaska this past legislative session. Your letters, phone calls and visits with members of the Alaska State Legislature keeps the university front and center in the discussions and deliberations in Juneau.
The 26th Alaska State Legislature adjourned its 90-day session on April 19, and in the end, the university fared fairly well in the big picture. UA received a $12.9 million increase in general fund dollars for the FY10 operating budget. This represents a 4.1% increase over the previous fiscal year, although it's $14.7 million less than the Board of Regents' request. The Board of Regents and administration are now looking at ways to address the $4.7 million shortfall to the operating budget.
The university's health training programs were funded an additional $922,000, and $950,000 was included for energy-related programs. Both of these issues were top priorities in the session. The university also stands to gain in the recent federal stimulus funding approved by the legislature in a special session held Aug. 10.
The capital budget included $3.2 million (out of a $50 million request) to address maintaining existing facilities, also known as the annual renewal and renovation (R & R) requirement. No funds were appropriated for the board's top priorities for new construction.
While UAF did not receive any funding for the Life Sciences Innovation and Learning Facility, legislators and staff are well aware of the benefits of this facility thanks to your advocacy efforts in this regard. This is a long-term educational process.
For more information on the UA FY10 operating and capital budgets, see:
http://www.alaska.edu/state/fast-facts/ATT00056.pdf
UA FY10 operating budget numbers are out
The Conference Committee has agreed to ratify the numbers in the budget that are identical in the House and Senate budgets. For the university, this means the issues left on the table are the difference between the House and Senate fixed costs, and only the 'priority programs' category pieces up for negotiation are $922,000 for Health programs, and $950,000 for Energy/Climate Change/CES.
The Conference Committee has three choices:
Accept the numbers; reduce the numbers or eliminate the proposed funding. They cannot add in any more funding.
A comparison of House and Senate numbers reveals the Senate Finance Committee proposed FY10 operating budget for UA is a $12.5 million increase, 4%, over the current fiscal year. The proposed budget is $15.1 million less than the Regents request and $2.6 million less than the Governor's budget.
This version of the proposed budget does not fully cover the university's fixed costs (shortfall -$4.2 million). The $1.7 million in utility cost increases are being considered under a separate appropriation.
FY10 University Capital Budget
The prospects for capital funding for the university hangs in the air as the Senate Finance Committee releases its recommendations. SB 75 contains all of the general fund and receipt authority funding for the FY10 capital budget. Much work is left to be accomplished, and the House will play a major role in the outcome as the Senate sends over their recommendations.
At this point in time, SB 75 contains no funding for the Life Sciences facility, and only $3.2 million of the $50 million request for deferred maintenance piece. There is receipt authority for UA climate and energy projects.
Senate Finance Committee proposes FY10 UA operating budget recommendations
The Senate Finance Committee (SFC) proposed FY10 operating budget for UA is a $12.5 million increase, 4%, over the current fiscal year. The proposed budget is $15.1 million less than the Regents request and $2.6 million less than the Governor's budget.
This version of the proposed budget does not fully cover the university's fixed costs (shortfall -$4.2 million). The $1.7 million in utility cost increases are being considered under separate legislation.
The UA Board of Regents' (BOR) FY10 operating budget request includes $2.6 million for K-12 Outreach, and the Governor's budget includes $800 thousand for these priority increments. The Senate Finance Committee proposed budget does not include funding for these programs.
The BOR request includes $3.8 million for Energy, Engineering and Climate Change programs and the Governor's budget includes $1 million for the Energy programs. The Senate Finance Committee proposed budget includes $950 thousand for Energy and Cooperative Extension Service programs.
The BOR request also includes $3 million for Health program priorities and theGovernor's budget includes $1.8 million to support these programs. The SFC proposed budget does not include funding for these programs.
The table provides a summary comparison of the UA's Board of Regents' request, Governor's Budget Amended, House Finance Proposed and Senate Finance proposed FY10 operating budget. The Conference Committee will meet within the next few weeks to discuss areas of difference in the Senate and House budget versions.
The Conference Committee must resolve differences in the Senate and House budgets (items in grey on table) prior to bill passage.
Last chance to testify on FY10 operating budget (March 25)
Please consider attending these important hearings to let your voice be heard. Is workforce development important to you? How about energy research, Cooperative Extension Service, health programs, K-12 bridging programs? Whatever your interest, the Senate Finance Committee wants to hear from you regarding the FY10 operating budget.
The Board of Regents request to the legislature presently resides in the Senate Finance Committee. To date, the House accepted the House Finance Committee recommendations that short-funded fixed costs in the FY10 operating budget by over $7 million, not to mention deleting most of the high-demand program funding requests.
The message is: "Fund the University Board of Regents FY10 operating request in full." Here is a sample letter of support and points to consider to help you make your case.
Note: Citizens are asked to go their local legislative information office to testify no later than 15 minutes prior to closing times at each location. Comments are limited to two (2) minutes.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Senate Finance Committee
9 - 10 a.m. Juneau
10 - 10:45 a.m. Kenai, Valdez, Ketchikan, Kodiak, MatSu, Seward, Glennallen, Tok
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Fairbanks
2:30 - 3:45 p.m. Anchorage
4 - 5 p.m. Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell, Homer, Dillingham, Cordova
5 - 6 p.m. Bethel, Kotzebue, Barrow, Nome, Delta Junction, offnets
February update
With thirty days of a ninety-day session completed, the 26th Alaska State Legislature is in full swing. Over the course of the past several weeks, the UA Board of Regents, the UA Foundation Board of Trustees, the UA Coalition of Students, the UAF Alumni Association, the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce and various other groups have descended upon the capital, all advocating for support of the University of Alaska.
A number of committee-level discussions about the university have taken place in the areas of workforce development, health care, and energy. All three Chancellors and President Hamilton testified before the House Subcommittee on the university budget, as well as the Senate Finance Committee.
The House Finance Subcommittee on the university budget is planning its closeout on February 24. Their recommendations will be forwarded onto the full House Finance Committee. It is anticipated the subcommittee will endorse at least the Governor's level of funding for the university. The best-case scenario would be for the members to recommend full funding. In this day of declining oil prices, every state agency is asked to take a cut, and the university is no exception. However, in times of economic downturn, supporting a robust university system goes a long way to long-term economic development and prosperity.
We expect this committee to hold a statewide teleconference in the first part of March to hear from constituents about their support of certain budgetary items in the operating budget. This will be the first of two opportunities this session to participate in the legislative process from your own home communities, and it is a very visible way to support the university. Legislators take note of where the support is coming from, and tally the results accordingly. The more university supporters participate, the more legislators will support the university.
The format for the budget teleconferences allows two minutes of testimony from each participant. Legislators seem to respond to anecdotal stories about support, rather than 'canned' support statements.
Now is a great time to send your legislators a letter to ask for their support. A sample letter is included to get you started. At this point in time, your letter should be sent to your own Senator and Representative, as well as all members of the House Finance Committee.
Thank you for supporting your University of Alaska!
uafalumni@gmail.com
A new year, a new session, a new start
The 26th Alaska State Legislature begins work on January 20th and adjourns by April 19th this year. This 90-day session is guaranteed to be challenging. Action to date includes the Board of Regents FY10 operating budget and capital budget to the Governor with subsequent action by the Governor prior to the legislative session.
The Alaska State Senate now is comprised of three new senators out of twenty, including Senators-elect Kevin Meyer (R - Anchorage), Linda Menard (R - MatSu), and Joe Paskvan (D - Fairbanks). A Senate Majority coalition has been formed to include all but four Senate Minority members. Senator Gary Stevens is slated to take the Senate President's slot, with Senators Hoffman (D-Bethel) and Stedman (R-Sitka) as Senate Finance Co-Chairs.
The Alaska State House of Representatives has five new members out of forty, including Representatives - elect Cathy Munoz (R-Juneau), Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage), Pete Peterson (D-Anchorage), Charisse Millett (R-Anchorage) and Bob Herron (D-Bethel). A House Majority coalition has also been formed in the House, with Representative Mike Chenault (R-Kenai/Soldotna) slated to take the Speaker's seat. Representative Mike Hawker (R-Anchorage) and Representative Bill Stoltze (R-Eagle River) and a UAF alumnus, are co-chairing the House Finance Committee. The House Minority leader will again be Representative Beth Kerttula (D-Juneau). Summary of Governor's UA FY10 operating and capital budgets.
For more information, contact Ann Ringstad at ann@alaska.edu or 907-474-5922.