On Saturday, February 22 at 1:30 p.m., several members of the state legislature will gather to hold a town hall-style conversation on the peninsula regarding the 2021 state budget.
Present at the conversation will be Rep. Gary Knopp (R-Kenai/Soldotna), House Speaker Bryce Edgmon (I-Dillingham), Rep. Louise Stutes (R-Kodiak), and Rep. Neal Foster (D-Nome). Rep. Knopp and Rep. Foster are both current members of the House finance committee. All will offer an overview of what is going on financially at the state-level, and they will accept comments and concerns from the public regarding the upcoming fiscal budget.
Rep. Knopp explains why the timing of this budget discussion is so important: “We’re wrapping up the budget subcommittee process, so this week, we take the public testimony on the budget we have in front of us. On Monday, we’re gonna start to debate the budget. So, for me to come to Kenai on Saturday and bring the Speaker of the House, Bryce Edgmon, the Majority Whip, Rep. Stutes of Kodiak, and also the chair of the operating budget, Rep. Neal Foster, we’re going to come to Kenai and give an overview of where we’re at. It’s a perfect time because on Monday we’ll start debating the size of the budget. We’ll get some feedback and have an opportunity to let people know where the fiscal picture is this year. The timing is perfect as we get into the debate for the size of the budget this year.”
Public comments taken at the meeting will help lawmakers make decisions about where to fund and where to cut when it comes to the state budget. The meeting will be held at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Building Assembly Chambers in Soldotna.
