Legislature(2025 - 2026)SENATE FINANCE 532
02/27/2025 01:00 PM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Public Testimony: Anchorage, Matanuska-susitna Valley, Kenai Peninsula | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 56 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 57 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 58 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 59 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE BILL NO. 56
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; making supplemental appropriations;
making reappropriations; making appropriations under
art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of
Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve fund;
and providing for an effective date."
SENATE BILL NO. 57
"An Act making appropriations, including capital
appropriations and other appropriations; making
reappropriations; making appropriations to capitalize
funds; and providing for an effective date."
SENATE BILL NO. 58
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program; and providing for
an effective date."
SENATE BILL NO. 59
"An Act making supplemental appropriations; making
appropriations to capitalize funds; and providing for
an effective date."
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: ANCHORAGE, MATANUSKA-SUSITNA VALLEY,
KENAI PENINSULA
1:09:21 PM
LON GARRISON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATION OF ALASKA
SCHOOL BOARDS, JUNEAU, testified in support of increased
public education funding. He explained that Association of
Alaska School Boards (AASB) was a statewide institution
representing the interests of 53 school districts across
the state. He relayed that one of the top three priorities
was to increase sufficient and sustained public education
funding. He cited that in the previous fall, the
Legislative Finance Division (LFD) had estimated that an
inflation adjusted Base Student Allocation (BSA) for FY 25
would be $1,808 higher than the current amount. He
acknowledged that the amount was much higher and unlikely
to be considered in the current year. He asserted that
there was a clear link between school funding and student
outcomes. He made note of school districts cutting
programs, increasing class sizes, reducing teachers, and
decreasing extra-curricular opportunities. He mentioned the
challenge of recruiting and retaining qualified teachers.
He mentioned a lack of resources in counseling, tutoring,
and student support services.
1:12:05 PM
TOM KLAAMEYER, PRESIDENT, NEA ALASKA, ANCHORAGE, spoke in
support of increased funding for education. He thought the
state's public schools were in crisis and experiencing the
most challenging conditions he had seen in his almost 30-
year career in education. He contended the districts all
over the state were closing schools, which could cause
great harm to communities, particularly in rural areas. He
mentioned reduced student support, eliminated programs, and
increased class sizes. He cited that military leadership
had indicated that Alaska had started to gain a reputation
with military families as a less desirable assignment
because of a diminishment of the public school system. He
mentioned he was a teacher and United States Air Force
veteran. He understood that the state was facing a
significant fiscal challenge. He mentioned the need for
funding for school major maintenance and pupil
transportation.
1:14:26 PM
ROD ARNO, FRIENDS OF WEST SUSITNA, PALMER, testified in
support of the governor's proposed budget of $2.5 million
for the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority
(AIDEA) to continue working on permitting for a road. He
relayed that he had represented outdoors people of the
state for the previous three and a half decades. He was on
the board for the Friends of West Susitna, which had worked
closely with AIDEA as well as with former Governor Sean
Parnell for getting access to the West Susitna. The group
had worked with AIDEA on a multi-use road for all Alaskans.
He thought there was an opportunity for the state to have a
road on state lands without federal oversight beyond the
environmental study.
1:16:09 PM
DONALEE JARDIN, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke
in support of increased BSA funding. She contended that
children were the state's future work force, and that the
community and the state all benefited from educated
children. She emphasized that the state must follow the
constitution and provide adequate funding.
1:17:05 PM
JAY BECHTOL, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), testified in
support of funding for behavioral health services. He
worked with South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services. He
mentioned the state's high youth suicide rate. He thought
there was a mental health crisis and that state funding had
not kept pace with the cost of providing mental health
services. His agency provided services to about 400 clients
annually, and 250 individuals from the community. iHe cited
that while expenses had gone up by about 8 percent, revenue
had only increased about 3 percent.
1:18:48 PM
SHAWN GRIMES, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), testified
in support of $300,000 in funding for planning and design
for erosion mediation in the City of Homer's FY 26 capital
request. He owned and operated The Tackle Shack on Homer
Spit Road. He discussed a storm which had caused damage to
his property. He cited dropping of the beach level by four
feet due to rapid and ongoing erosion. He had personally
invested $70,000 into reinforcing the shoreline and
foundation improvements. He was concerned about the
immediate wellbeing of his livelihood and assets. He shared
concerns about the local economy, beach access, and overall
quality of life. He mentioned thousands of visitors per
year, which was part of Homer's economy.
1:21:28 PM
SEAN CASE, CHIEF, ANCHORAGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BOARD
MEMBER, BLOOD BANK ALASKA, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke in support of the capital budget that included the
remaining $500,000 for completion of the donor testing lab
for the Blood Bank of Alaska (BBA). He contended that the
blood bank played a crucial role in the emergency response
system and saved lives. He mentioned the importance of the
security of the blood supply in the state. He described
using blood testing resources out of state and the
challenges. He emphasized that the donor testing lab would
promote self-sufficiency for the state. He mentioned the
access challenges in rural areas.
1:23:04 PM
CHARLES COULSON, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BLOOD BANK OF ALASKA,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in support of
$500,000 in funding for BBA. He relayed that BBA was very
close to getting donor testing functional in the state, and
the last $500,000 was needed to complete the project and
addressed what he considered the largest risk to the
state's blood supply.
1:24:27 PM
MATT HEMMER, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of increased funding for public
schools. He supported increased funding as a matter of
fiscal responsibility and public safety. He thought the
state was in a "pay now or pay later" situation and posited
that it cost far less to educate a child than to imprison
an adult. He thought the state faced a serious workforce
shortage. He mentioned that teacher vacancies were rising.
He cited that 24 percent of the state's workforce was
filled by non-residents. He thought education supported a
home-grown workforce as well as the economy. He thought
good schools attracted and retained families. He mentioned
the state's shrinking population. He mentioned the
constitutional obligation for the state to support public
schools. He cited that 77 percent of Alaskan supported
increased education funding.
1:26:48 PM
MICHELE GIRAULT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HOPE COMMUNITY
RESOURCES, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), supported
$75,000 in funding for the Deaf Navigator Program, and an
increase of $5 million for the Infant Learning Program. She
relayed that Hope Community Resources provided support to
individuals with disabilities. She relayed that she was the
board chair for the Key Coalition of Alaska. She discussed
the Deaf Navigator Program, which had never received a
funding increase since its inception. She noted that Alaska
had the most restrictive eligibility criteria for early
intervention services. She noted that Medicaid services
were continually "on the chopping block," and it was
important to invest in early intervention services in order
to see a decrease in demand as children grew. She
referenced data related to early interventions.
1:29:11 PM
TREVOR STORRS, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
ALASKA CHILDREN'S TRUST, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
supported fully funding Alaska's Head Start programs. He
explained that the Alaska Children's Trust focused on the
prevention of child abuse and neglect. He cited that Alaska
had one of the highest rates of child maltreatment in the
nation. He supported increased funding for early
intervention services through the Alaska Infant Learning
Program, additional $7.5 million in the base for the
Childcare Grant Program, additional $5 million for child
advocacy centers, and a permanent increase to the BSA.
1:30:39 PM
RICHELLE JOHNSON, BLOOD BANK OF ALASKA, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified in support of a $500,000
appropriation for BBA to complete the donor testing lab.
She recounted that in 2022 and 2024 the blood bank had
received two appropriations that totaled approximately $35
million. She thought it had been clear that the need for
the blood bank to have its own donor testing in the state
had grown over the previous several years. She thought
having testing of the state's blood supply hosted out of
state was one of the weak points of the organization's
operational resiliency. She mentioned difficulties with
airport closures, severe weather, and a recent ransomware
attack causing serious delays in donor testing. She noted
that BBA was the sole blood and blood product provider in
the state.
1:33:06 PM
DONALD MCCLINTOCK, CHAIRMAN, BLOOD BANK OF ALASKA,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in support
$500,000 for BBA to finish its facility. He mentioned the
comments of previous testifiers. He mentioned serving rural
Alaska.
1:34:51 PM
AMY RAYESS, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in
support of an increase to the BSA of at least $1,000. She
had three children in the Anchorage School District (ASD).
She stressed the importance of public education.
1:35:37 PM
POLLYBETH ODOM, SELF, MATSU (via teleconference), spoke in
support of increased funding for behavioral health
services, specifically for $30,000. She asserted that the
state had violated Regulation 7 AAC 145.580 with delays of
over 2.5 years which had caused loss of revenue for
providers.
1:36:56 PM
RACHAEL POSEY, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of education funding. She thought
districts were in crisis. She had two students in ASD. She
mentioned education funding not keeping up with inflation.
She mentioned ballooning class sizes and the loss of extra-
curricular activities. She knew multiple families that had
left the state over concerns with the quality of education.
She urged the legislature to increase the BSA by at least
$1,000. She thought the investment would serve all Alaskans
and support the economy.
1:38:30 PM
AMY SIMPSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PROGRAMS FOR INFANTS AND
CHILDREN, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), supported
expanded Alaska Infant Learning Program eligibility for
children with developmental delays to get help earlier to
improve educational trajectories. She was a member of the
Alaska Early Childhood Advocacy Group, the Alaska
Interagency Coordinating Council, and the Alaska Infant
Learning Providers Association. She cited a study that
indicated that 46 percent of children that received early
intervention services did not need costly special education
services beyond kindergarten.
Ms. Simpson cited that currently, children in Alaska were
eligible to receive services under Part C of
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) with
a 50 percent delay. She supported a change to a 25 percent
delay for eligibility and estimated an increase of 77
percent in eligible children. The increase would result in
a need for a 77 percent increase in ILP funding, which
equated to approximately $5.7 million. She believed the
investment would save about $34 million in annual special
education costs to the state.
1:40:44 PM
STEPHANIE BERGLUND, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THREAD ALASKA,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in support of a
minimum of $20 million for operational grants for childcare
programs and early educator retention. She was a member of
Alaska Early Childhood Advocacy Group. She cited that there
were currently over 23,000 children without access to
quality childcare and early childhood education services so
parents could work. She emphasized that childcare was
necessary infrastructure. She contended that childcare
continued to be a crisis across the state and needed to be
stabilized and expanded across the state. She mentioned the
closure of the last childcare center that offered infant
care in Eagle River. She stressed the importance of early
learning and its effect on educational success.
1:42:47 PM
SARAH LEWIS, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke in
support of a permanent $1,000 increase to the BSA. She
shared a personal story related to her child not receiving
necessary educational support. She mentioned the Alaska
Reads Act and mentioned tutoring programs that had been
cut. She discussed spending personal funds on private
tutors. She noted that her daughter had yet to receive
support from the school district.
1:44:51 PM
JULIA LUEY, PRESIDENT/CEO, VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), supported a $15 million to $30
million increase to the operating budget for behavioral
health. She noted that Volunteers of America (VOA) provided
the full continuum of care for youth, young adults, and
their families. She mentioned the residential treatment
program in Eagle River, which served youth from every
district in Alaska and was the only non-tribal residential
treatment center operating in the state. With the increase,
VOA would strive to expand and sustain services in response
to the state's youth mental health crisis. She cited that
the crisis was growing, and recent data showed that one in
five of Alaska's youth attempted suicide. She mentioned
increased overdose rates. She noted that behavioral health
rate rebasing was over two and a half years behind
schedule, which had resulted in losses to providers.
1:47:14 PM
AMANDA GARCIA, CO-OWNER, SALMONBERRY TOURS, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified in support of investment in the
statewide tourism marketing program. She discussed her tour
company, which employed 23 year-round employees and 36
seasonal employees. She cited that since 2020 the company
was the concessionaire for a state historical park. She
thought ATIA was important for Alaska to compete in the
global market as a destination. She discussed the
importance of marketing as a development tool. She
described tourism as an economic pillar of the state which
generated $5.6 billion in economic impact. She claimed that
for every advertising dollar spent, it generated $370 in
tourism dollars spent in Alaska business. She mentioned
over $150 million in revenue to the state.
1:49:16 PM
MAEVE SPIEGLER, SELF, KENAI (via teleconference), supported
$575,000 in funding for environmental modifications [for
individuals with disabilities.] She relayed that she worked
at the Independent Living Center working with children with
disabilities. She worked with many individuals that were
housebound. She discussed the need for personal home
modifications and mentioned safety concerns. She relayed a
personal story of her family's house modifications that
allowed her brother to remain at home as long as possible.
1:51:05 PM
KATIE JUDGE, SELF, ANCHORAGE, spoke in support of funding
for the school district. She had three children enrolled in
ASD. She discussed utilizing the school nurse and loss of
funding. She discussed her children's access to extra-
curricular activities, art, and sports programs possible
with school funding. She was concerned with cuts to middle
and high school sports and increased class sizes.
1:53:33 PM
BARB DAHL, SELF, KENAI (via teleconference), supported $2.7
million funding for the Division of Agriculture. She was on
the Alaska Farm Bureau Board and was the owner of Northern
Bloom Peonies. She thought there should be a Department of
Agriculture, which she thought would be helpful in many
areas and was a low budget request.
1:54:53 PM
PATRICK REINHART, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON
DISABILITY AND SPECIAL EDUCATION, ANCHOR POINT (via
teleconference), supported $5.7 million to support
expansion of Infant Learning Programs, a $480,000 increment
for the Special Education Service Agency (SESA), a $75,000
increment to support the Deaf Navigator Program in the
Department of Health, and funding a functional needs
coordinator for the Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs Emergency Operations. SHe mentioned that there was
a Disability Services Advisory Committee, which he thought
needed someone identified that only addressed the emergency
needs of people with disabilities across the state. He
supported $250,000 in capital funding for the Human
Services Transportation Grant Program under Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities. He supported match
funding of $1 million to go towards providers to meet
federally required matching funds.
1:57:20 PM
AMBER CHAPIN, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of a $1,000 per-student increase to
the BSA and increased funding for early childhood
development. She was a registered pediatric nurse and
mother of two children in ASD. She cared for acutely sick
children.
1:58:42 PM
JOANNA CAHOON, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of a $1,000 increase to the BSA. She
had two children in ASD. She thought schools were in
crisis. She emphasized that the state could not attract or
keep families if its schools were failing.
1:59:39 PM
CINDY HARRIS, BOARD MEMBER, ALZHEIMER ASSOCIATION ALASKA
CHAPTER, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference), spoke in support of
increasing funding for the Adult Day Services Grant, and
increased funding for dementia education and prevention.
She relayed that she had lost her mother and her four
sisters to Alzheimer's and dementia. She discussed
challenges for caregivers and the need for respite care.
She supported increased funding for dementia education. She
cited that Alaska had a high rate of dementia.
2:01:53 PM
BEN BOETTGER, COOK INLET KEEPER, SOLDOTNA (via
teleconference), did not support appropriations to AIDEA.
2:03:37 PM
JAMES PATKOTAK, SELF, UTQIAGVIK (via teleconference),
testified in support of an upgrade of the Alaska Airlines
terminal in Utquigvik (Barrow). He thought people knew how
small the terminal was. He emphasized the need for an
upgrade to the terminal. He was concerned about disease and
germs in the terminal.
2:05:09 PM
SILAS WADE, DENALI FAMILY SERVICES, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), supported increased behavioral health
funding. He had worked in a children's shelter. He
mentioned Medicaid reimbursement. He discussed attempted
suicide by young people and emphasized that there was a
mental health crisis.
2:06:51 PM
DAN TUCKER, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference), testified
in support of increased funding for Adult Day Services
grants and dementia education and prevention. He advocated
for increased funding for respite and Alzheimer's
prevention. He mentioned his personal experience with
family with Alzheimer's. He stressed the need for increased
adult day service grants and the importance of dementia
education and prevention.
2:08:41 PM
CHRISTY GOMEZ, SELF, TYONEK (via teleconference), spoke in
support of an increase to the BSA. She was the principal of
a school in Tyonek. She discussed unsustainable funding.
She thought a BSA increase was necessary to keep pace with
inflation and also ensure quality education was being
provided under the state constitution. She thought well-
funded schools led to better outcomes and a stronger
workforce. She thought that without adequate funding, it
was impossible to provide equitable opportunities for all
students. She stressed that education was a necessity
rather than a luxury. She contended that every child
deserved access to a quality education despite the zip
code.
2:10:38 PM
DAN BIGLEY, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, DENALI
FAMILY SERVICES, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified
in favor of a $30 million increase to behavioral health
services. He worked for the largest provider of therapeutic
foster care in the state, which also provided out-patient
behavioral health services. He thoguht Alaska was
experiencing a youth mental health crisis and pointed out
the state's very high youth suicide rate. He mentioned
rising rates of death by overdose and the importance of
access to help. He cited that providers were shrinking in
size and mentioned low staffing due to low pay and poor
benefits.
2:12:29 PM
JEANNE GERHARDT-CYRUS, SELF, KIANA (via teleconference),
supported an increase to the BSA. She discussed challenges
with schools in rural areas. She mentioned the distance
between schools in her area. She supported the $480,000
increment for SESA and mentioned she was on the Governor's
Council on Disability and Special Education. She mentioned
the decreasing state population and the challenge of
providing for a smaller group of students with special
needs. She mentioned the importance of early intervention.
2:14:19 PM
RON MEEHAN, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, FOOD BANK OF
ALASKA, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in favor
of funding for school nutrition. He noted that he was
manager of the Alaska Food Coalition, which represented
more than 215 food banks, food pantries, tribal entities,
faith-based groups, school districts, and more. He thanked
the committee for its support of the anti-hunger network.
He mentioned funding that had been provided for
infrastructure that expanded access and capacity. He
mentioned the importance of student and child nutrition and
cited research that showed students that received food at
school had better health and outcomes.
2:16:39 PM
CODY CHIPP, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), supported
additional behavioral health services funding. He mentioned
that he was a licensed psychologist. He described program
closures. He described program degradation due to
diminished funding. He mentioned kids in the Office of
Children's Services that were not receiving proper
behavioral healthcare. He mentioned previous testimony
regarding the tragedies of youth suicide and overdose.
2:18:48 PM
LADAWN DRUCE, SELF, STERLING (via teleconference),
testified in support of an increase to the BSA of at least
$1,000. She relayed that she and her husband were both
retired educators and residents of over 30 years. She
described a decade of school funding not keeping up with
inflation. She mentioned Ms. Gomez's testimony. and the
testimony of former student Mr. Meehan, who had testified
about school lunches. She emphasized that one could see a
difference in students that received proper nutrition
through free school lunches.
2:21:04 PM
NIAMH DARDIS, DIRECTOR, REACH INFANT LEARNING PROGRAM,
JUNEAU (via teleconference), supported expanding the Infant
Learning Program eligibility. She discussed the importance
of early intervention. She cited that 46 percent of
children with early intervention did not need special
education services beyond kindergarten. It was estimated
that the eligibility adjustment would allow 77 percent more
children to access services in Alaska. She discussed long
term savings in special education services. She mentioned
that the eligibility expansion was a priority of the
Governor's Council on Disability and Special Education, Key
Campaign, the Alaska Infant Learning Program Association,
and others.
2:22:59 PM
BRANDY HARTY, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
testified in support of a BSA increase of at least $1,000
and increased funding for pupil transportation. She noted
that she served on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Board
of Education. She discussed decisions to close three
schools for a total of seven school closures in recent
years. She discussed cuts to music and extracurricular
programs. She discussed the local contribution and
mentioned small communities and the way federal impact aid
was utilized.
2:25:26 PM
RACHEL BLAKESLEE, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
supported a $1,000 increase to the BSA. She was the parent
of a kindergarten student in ASD. She discussed a decade of
state education funding not keeping up with inflation. She
mentioned the challenge of recruiting and retaining
teachers. She thought underfunded schools were driving
families away from the state and accelerating economic
decline while increasing reliance on a non-resident work
force. She mentioned Alaska's high cost of living. She
asserted that a system that was not well funded would not
have good performance outcomes.
2:27:35 PM
JESSICA NOBLE, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
strongly supported an increase of $1,000 to the BSA. She
had two children in ASD. She did not think test scores were
not the only indicator of a successful education program.
She wanted the governor to focus on teacher-student ratios.
She supported a balanced budget. She did not support
unsustainable out-sized Permanent Fund Dividends. She
thought the state needed to work towards economic
stability.
2:29:03 PM
CHRIS SCHUTTE, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of a $1,000 increase to the BSA. He
was a member of Dads for Schools. He thought increasing the
BSA would be an investment in the state's future. He was a
small business owner and commented on the impact of the
school system creating the next generation of employees and
leaders. He contended that underfunding schools accelerated
population decline and hindered the economic growth of the
state.
2:30:53 PM
BRIDGER REED-LEWIS, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
supported increased funding for disability support
services. He discussed the importance of adequate care for
those with disabilities. He discussed his personal
experiences. He thought cuts to services contributed to
homelessness. He mentioned the importance of the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Public Testimony Packet 3 022725.pdf |
SFIN 2/27/2025 1:00:00 PM |