Croft urges Murkowski to tighten his belt
http://www.akdemocrats.org/Documents/070204_governor_may_find_efficiencies.pdfAdditional information: Office of Management & Budget, Croft
ANCHORAGE - Governor Murkowski this week allowed the 2005 fiscal year to dawn without signing the corresponding FY05 budget. According to news reports attributed to administration officials in the governor's Office of Management & Budget, the governor is willing to let the deadline pass in order to search for fresh line item cuts to the budget.
"I urge the governor to look at his own budget for efficiencies," said Representative Eric Croft (D-Anchorage), senior Democratic member of the House Finance committee.
Representative Croft recalled Murkowski's oft-repeated challenge to the people of Alaska: it's time to tighten your belt.
"There has been a dramatic increase in the Governor's budget since Murkowski took office," said Representative Croft. "From fiscal year 1999 to 2003 the Executive Office functions cost about $6.4 million per year. The current Murkowski budget for the Executive Office is $8.4 million for fiscal year 2005, over a 30 percent increase. Some of this increase is due to the transfer of trade functions, but a significant portion of the increase is new positions or salary cap overrides in the Governor's own Executive Offices. It is unfair for the Governor to ask for sacrifices in the rest of government while his office continues to grow fatter and fatter."
###
Putting Alaskans First · Moving Alaska Forward 2004
Sen. Bettye Davis, Sen. Johnny Ellis, Sen. Kim Elton, Sen. Lyman Hoffman, Sen. Hollis French, Sen. Gretchen Guess, Sen. Georgianna Lincoln, Sen. Donny Olson, Rep. Ethan Berkowitz, Rep. Sharon Cissna, Rep. Harry Crawford, Rep. Eric Croft, Rep. Les Gara, Rep. Max Gruenberg, Rep. David Guttenberg, Rep. Reggie Joule, Rep. Mary Kapsner, Rep. Beth Kerttula, Rep. Albert Kookesh, Rep. Carl Moses