The Senate Finance Committee listened to public comment on the operating budget this afternoon.
Over 20 Kenai Peninsula residents testified on a variety of topics.
Dan Pascucci used a creative method to disagree with the cuts to public broadcasting.
Pascussi: “But one thing that ties us all together is our need for information, whether it’s the price of oil, or beluga populations. Or info on our safety and school or of road closures, or tsunami volcano warnings, or public service disclosures. Now I know that lots of different groups have asked you for the cash, but please consider one big thing, before you make the slash. It’s broadcasting across our state that sends messages for all groups, whether they’re trying to fight hunger, or fix honey bucket poops.”
Kenai Library Director Mary Jo Joiner requested support from the Senate of some programs needed at the library.
Joiner: “The OWL program and the live homework help programs were both in Governor Bill Walker’s FY 2016 budget. The OWL program benefits almost every public library in the state through the video conferencing network that was originally funded with public private grants. This program improved bandwidth to 97 libraries and communities throughout the state. These state funds, $719,800, leverage approximately $2 million in federal e-rate funds for broadband. Without sufficient broadband speeds the network cannot provide the video conferencing capability that is in place today.”
The operating budget is expected to go to a floor vote on Friday, April 3.
