Soldotna Senator Peter Micciche this week backed a bill which would freeze state spending on school bonds. Senator Anna MacKinnon’s bill will most affect a proposed $59 million package for the Anchorage School District.
Sen. Micciche(R-K. Pen): “There’s a guy on the radio, his name’s Dave Ramsey, he’s a financial counselor. I can just imagine that call, to call Mr. Ramsey and say, ‘Mr. Ramsey, I’m the State of Alaska. I’m overspending by $3.5 billion this year, what should I do? I’m thinking about buying some new schools, what’s your recommendation?’ I know what that call would sound like.”
The bill would retroactively pause the practice of reimbursing municipalities for school bonds issues after January 1 of this year.
If it passes the Senate and House and wins the Governor’s approval before April 7, the bill would nullify the state’s obligation to match the Anchorage bonds.
Anchorage Democratic Senators Johnny Ellis and Bill Wielechowski say it’s unfair to change the policy since voting is already underway in Anchorage. They voted against it.
The bill proposes resuming reimbursements in 2020.
