Alaska’s full legislature is set to reconvene next week and Governor Bill Walker must decide on a state operating budget by May 19.
Last week he called for a special legislative session after lawmakers passed a budget but failed to provide means to fund it.
As the state faces a projected $6.9 billion deficit, Democrats and Republicans continue to disagree on cuts of education funding and pay for union workers, among other things.
Against the governor’s wishes, the House and Senate voted to take a break from floor sessions until May 12, although finance committees have continued to meet.
Thus far the special session has held six hearings on the budget but no hearings on the other two issues Walker requested they address: Medicaid and a bill pertaining to sexual assault prevention and awareness programs in schools.
The governor’s budget director Pat Pitney has said that the budget currently passed is invalid unless action is taken to balance revenues and spending for the coming fiscal year.
Despite the massive deficit and no specific way to currently fund the budget, Walker has proposed adding $94 million to the budget that was passed by legislators.
Along with that the State of Alaska is facing low oil prices.
According to director Pitney, the price of oil would need to reach $130 per barrel to balance the budget while North Slope oil is only in the range of $60 per barrel.
