MARCH 4, 2015

Fairbanks Budget Testimony
Wednesday 1 to 4 PM

Dear Fairbanks Neighbors,

This week the House Finance Committee will be taking testimony on the state operating budget.  I serve on three Finance subcommittees which passed recommended budgets for the University of Alaska and the departments of Revenue and Labor and Workforce Development.  The Finance Committee has compiled the department budgets into one budget and will be taking testimony from across the state this week.  Now it is your turn to make your voice heard on the budget.  The Finance Committee will be taking testimony from Fairbanks from 1 to 4 pm on Wednesday (March 4) at the Fairbanks Legislative Information Office at 1292 Saddler Way.

I know that it can be hard to take time off of work to testify, so if you can’t make it you can send me your comments and I will send them to all the committee members.  I have asked that an evening or weekend hearing be scheduled to allow people to be able to testify at a more convenient time.  If we can arrange another time I will let you know.

Representative Wool meeting with Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott

You have probably heard that Alaska is facing a $3.5 billion budget deficit for next year, and it is safe to say that bringing the budget under control is a top priority for every legislator.  But as always, the devil’s in the details. This year’s operating budget totaled $12.5 billion dollars, and Governor Walker has proposed a budget for next year totaling $9.8 billion dollars, and the budget before the Finance Committee would cut an additional $113 million.

While we obviously would not like to be facing such a large deficit, this discussion has led to some good streamlining that will make government more efficient.  For example, in the Labor and Workforce Development Subcommittee working with the department we realized that the Workers Compensation Appeals Commission was not needed and was just creating an unnecessary level of bureaucracy.

Representative Wool speaking about Independent Democratic Coalition budget priorities

Some of the proposed cuts are more troubling and I am especially worried about proposed cuts to the university system, K-12 education, and job training.  These are all areas where spending money today saves more money in future public assistance, criminal justice, and corrections costs.  We have to be very careful that we are not making cuts that will stick future generations with a bigger bill to pay.  I am particularly concerned over the University of Alaska budget, since UAF plays such a vital role in our community.

The governor proposed a $14 million reductuion to the University of Alaska budget which would require the Board of Regents to cut administrative staff and eliminate some under-utilized programs.  In the University Finance Subcommittee an additional $43 million cut was proposed, which would have drastically hurt the ability to provide quality higher education in Alaska.  I worked with my colleagues and we changed this to a $25 million dollar cut.  I am still worried that this cut is too deep, and I will work to convince my colleagues of how important the university is to our community and our state.

My priority is to bring the budget under control responsibly while protecting the services that are vital to our economy.  I am concerned that the proposed cuts to education and job training would hurt Fairbanks and hurt Alaska’s economy and I will continue to work for to improve this budget.  I look forward to hearing your ideas on the budget and I hope you will be able to testify tomorrow or send me your thoughts.  As always, please contact me with any thoughts, ideas, or concerns.

Sincerely,

Representative Adam Wool

P.S.  If you haven’t taken my neighborhood survey yet, please go here and send me your thoughts on important community issues.