The Senate Finance Committee yesterday passed a version of the budget which would drop $47.5 million from schools funding for the coming year.
Kenai Peninsula Senator Peter Micciche sits on the committee which rejected the House and Governor’s recommendation to forward-fund schools at 90%.
Sen. Peter Micciche(R-K. Pen): “The efforts today on the cuts that we’re forced to make in these budgets are just to reduce the budget on our kids and grandkids, right? We need to get control of our spending and understand what realistic revenues are going to look like in the future, make sure those two numbers match.”
The bill also includes language which would prohibit any unilateral action by the Governor to expand Medicaid.
On Wednesday Senator Click Bishop proposed reversing a decision which would halt pay raises for public employees next year, but his proposal was denied.
The bill could be voted on by the Senate as early as Friday. If it passes, but the House doesn’t agree with the cuts, a conference committee made of of House and Senate representatives will hash out the details.
