Gov. Mike Dunleavy held a press conference Thursday afternoon establishing his legislative and policy priorities that will move the state towards a more secure and stable future. He was joined by Michael Johnson, Commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development and John Skidmore, Deputy Attorney General to discuss the results of the conclusion of the 32nd Alaska State Legislature.
The governor thanked legislators who prioritized Alaskan’s needs over everything else as residents are seeing soaring fuel prices, runaway inflation, and economic fallout and trying to budget accordingly. He says that the $3,200 cash payout to Alaskans this year, made up of the PFD and the energy relief check, makes it the largest PFD to date, which he says should assist significantly with Alaskans battling high rates of inflation.
He said:
“The budget is a complete budget. In other words, that budget is ready to go and the state of Alaska, what I mean the state, I mean the people, the comprehensive state should take note that this budget is fully functional and that there’s no need for this legislature to come back to fulfil its primary obligation, which is to actually execute a budget, which they did. In years past, we’ve had discussions about effective dates, CBR votes, etc., in order to complete the budget. The budget is complete. We have a budget. The people of Alaska need to know that. I think that’s a good thing going into this year.”
He says the state’s been fortunate with revenue:
“Our revenue picture still is holding. It think it’s about $105-$110 a barrel. I think the last time we had a press conference, there was always the question, ‘What’s your projection? What’s it going to look like?’ So far, things are holding. There’s a number of reasons for that, obviously. Some would attribute to the revenue picture and the price of oil to what’s happening in Ukraine and this war with Russia. Some would also credit the administration in Washington with taking leases off the table, many leases, especially here in Alaska and on federal lands across the country. This has all kind of added to an environment in which we have oil at $100-plus. As you know, we can’t always count on $100-plus. To that issue, this budget also allows about $1.1 billion to be put into savings.”
Dunleavy’s legislative successes for Alaskans for this 32nd Legislature includes public safety, People First Initiative, 2022 PFD, Alaska Reads Act, Alaska Statehood Defense, critical infrastructure, energy diversification, and dividing the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.
He states that while the budget accomplishes many of his priorities, he will closely examine the overall level of spending in the FY23 budget to determine where money can be saved to preserve as much of the windfall from high oil prices as possible. Once he receives the budget bills, he will review and analyze options that he says are best suited for Alaskans.
