Funding

A $20 million budget shortfall may be looming in front of the Anchorage School District next school year, and it's not expecting any more money from the state than it got last year. But how much of the bill should be footed by Anchorage taxpayers? With flat funding expected from the state, Anchorage Assembly member Jennifer Johnston wants to make sure Anchorage taxpayers don't foot a bigger bill to the district either. Johnston has introduced a resolution to the Assembly, telling the school district not to expect any more money from the city than it got last year, when city property taxes paid for about 30 percent of ASD’s nearly $800 million budget.

School district officials from across the state are on a field trip to Juneau, trying to explain to lawmakers how extra help from the state would help avoid some painful cuts -- but some legislators think they've already done enough. Although most districts visit their lawmakers in Juneau annually, this time there's an added sense of urgency. Educators who visited the state Capitol came with a message that a vision without funding is just an illusion. “I think most of us across the state, you will see, are facing some pretty major budget shortfalls,” said Lon Garrison with the Sitka School Board.

Anchorage police are trying to make a case for cameras in their vehicles. They say it'll cost $4 million and they're asking state lawmakers for the money. Seventeen traffic patrol cars already have cameras, but this grant would install a video system throughout the entire fleet. APD Sgt. Justin Doll is helping organize the effort. Doll has been using the cameras for about seven months and says he finds it's difficult for offenders to argue when crime is caught on tape. “The public should be looking at this as one more tool for us to use to increase traffic safety and just improve the efficiency of the department overall.

The first of the Anchorage School District's community budget dialogues took place Wednesday night. Dozens of people visited Clark Middle School to talk about what the district should cut for the 2011-2012 school year. According to ASD's chief financial officer, Chad Stiteler, the district needs to make some tough decisions. "Given what we know now and given the requirements of the board policy and given the municipal code to bring a balanced budget to the Assembly, we have a $15 million gap at this point," Stiteler said.

by Ted Land Thursday, February 18, 2010 JUNEAU, Alaska -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski came to the state capital Thursday with some troubling news for Alaskans who rely on federal dollars. She says money is becoming difficult to bring home as attitudes change in Washington. Murkowksi addressed a joint session of the House and Senate in a visit she makes each legislative session to update everyone on what she's doing in Washington, where earmarks aren't what they used to be. Very few U.S. senators, in their home states, would be able to recognize just about everyone in a room.

by Channel 2 News staff Wednesday, May 19, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Every year the flowers go up in downtown Anchorage, but during a budget crunch, funding for the program gets tight. The city, the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Anchorage Downtown Partnership have joined forces to create an endowment fund for the flowers. They hope one day the endowment earnings will be able to pay for the program. Mayor Dan Sullivan announced Wednesday that the city will also host its first Festival of Flowers, which will be a chance to celebrate the attraction that Anchorage residents and visitors enjoy every year.

The Anchorage School District can expect a bigger increase in funding from city property taxes over last year. That's after a debate at Anchorage Assembly chambers questioning why the school district should get more money when enrollment numbers are projected to fall next year. The Assembly’s Tuesday night meeting was meant to be an indication to the school district, before it puts together its budget, about how much money it can expect from Anchorage property tax payers.

As Sen. Lisa Murkowski struggles with the biggest decision of her political career, the pressure is on from many supporters who want her  to run a write-in campaign -- and some of the loudest voices are coming from rural Alaska. Challenger Joe Miller's upset of Murkowski in the Republican U.S. Senate primary wasn't just Alaska news. National networks discussed how it would affect national politics, but little was said about the impact on Alaskans most affected by the loss of Murkowski's seniority.

by Channel 2 News staff Tuesday, October 6, 2009 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- In a poll conducted by Channel 2 News, respondents were asked whether they think the state should spend $400 million to expand post-secondary scholarships for Alaska students. Here is the official question and results of the 493 people who voted. Should the state spend $400 million to expand post-secondary scholarships for Alaska students? Yes 56 % No 44 % All polls conducted by Channel 2 News and KTUU.

by Rhonda McBride Tuesday, March 31, 2009 JUNEAU, Alaska -- Lawmakers are moving ahead with efforts to get as much federal stimulus money as they can, despite no answer from Gov. Sarah Palin to their biggest question: Will she veto their appropriations for stimulus money? House and Senate leaders said they met with Palin Tuesday and still have no clear answers about what she might veto. Even so, Senate majority leaders said they would take up a resolution Wednesday on the Senate floor to request all of the stimulus money available to Alaska and sort out the rest later.