Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed a $1,000 increase to the Base Student Allocation, the state’s per-student funding formula. The move prompted lawmakers to plan a joint session next week to consider overriding his veto.
House members said the Senate would now effectively be tasked with balancing the budget, which could see reductions to the House’s planned school funding boost, the dividend and state services.
The Anchorage Assembly hailed the measures as milestones for a long-running effort to figure out funding for a modernization effort local leaders view as imperative.
Alaska’s voter-approved mandate for paid sick leave has not yet gone into effect, but some lawmakers are already trying to reduce the number of workers who would benefit from it. (via Alaska Beacon)
Multiple lawmakers said if the proposed cut is ultimately approved by the Legislature, it would likely not cut health care for transgender Alaskans. But that remains unclear.
A change to Alaska’s corporate income tax structure is expected to add as much as $65 million per year to the state treasury by diverting money from other states. (via Alaska Beacon)