The first year of the 24th Alaska Legislature promises to be busy and challenging. There will be many new issues on the table, as well as continued deliberations on issues such as the state's fiscal future, education funding and fisheries. With high oil prices bringing the state greater than expected revenue this year, there may be less need to draw upon the Constitutional Budget Reserve (CBR) to balance the budget in Fiscal Year 2006. This revenue could allow us to return money to some budget areas that have been trimmed in recent years.
I believe legislators in both bodies recognize that oil prices could drop at any time. Consequently, we will need to approach development of the budget prudently and continue to seek solutions for Alaska's long-term fiscal health.
In the coming session, lawmakers also will be examining the complex issues involving construction of the natural gas pipeline. With Congress approving incentives to allow the development of a contract between the state and producers, the Legislature will be asked to fund the engineering, planning and permitting of the gas pipeline. As we explore the pipeline, I will be counting on your input as the Legislature develops contracts that will benefit Alaskan communities and our citizens.
New Committee Assignments
Among the first order of business following the election was the reorganization of the Senate. I am honored that my colleagues have chosen me to serve as majority leader. As a member of the Senate leadership, I am committed to giving District R and Alaska's coastal communities a strong voice in the Legislature.
I also am looking forward to working again with District 35 Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Homer, and to working with District 36 Rep.-elect Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Kodiak, this year.
This year I will also chair the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee which considers state issues related to local governments. I also will serve on the Joint Armed Service Committee and the Legislative Council.
This term I will serve on the new Homeland Security and Emergency Management Subcommittee of the Joint Armed Services Committee. The subcommittee will review confidential activities, plans, reports, recommendations, and other materials of the Alaska division of homeland security, and emergency management of other agencies or persons involved in matters related to homeland security and civil defense, emergencies or disasters, and the state's response to those situations.
2005 Legislation
Education remains one of my top priorities, and I will work diligently on behalf of our school districts again next year. I have pre-filed legislation that will require the Legislature to approve an education budget by April 1, each year. This bill also calls for a $293 increase to the per-student funding formula, setting it at $4,869.
By state statute, school districts are required to submit funding requests to their municipal governments by May 1. In most years, the operating budget has not been passed until the very end of the legislative session in mid-May. This makes it difficult for school districts to prepare an actual financial plan, putting an added burden on local government officials in development of their budgets. Over the years, uncertainty in state funding has caused school districts to lay off educators only to attempt to hire them again once the final budget has been approved. Early education funding will greatly offset this problem.
Among other bills that I will pre-file is legislation that will help local governments avoid costly special initiative elections and referendums. In many cases, these measures are not so pressing in nature that they could not wait for the regular municipal election.
Special elections generally result in a lower voter turnout than the regular election and are costly to the municipality and, ultimately, the taxpayers. In one recent year, the Fairbanks North Star Borough had over 46 petitions filed in a period of four months.
Although these petitions resulted in only one special election (at a cost of $35,000), there was a potential for many more special elections at great cost to the municipality. Changing the statutes could result in cost savings to municipalities who could choose to wait until the next regular election, typically in October, to consider an issue. This legislation would give the municipal governing body the option of calling a special election if the council or assembly wished to have the initiative and referendum considered in a timelier manner.
These bills, and my other pre-filed legislation will be assigned bill numbers and committees of referral on the first day of session.
Senate Pages Needed
The Senate is in the process of recruiting Senate pages for the upcoming session. With a wide variety of duties involved in the job and a chance to interact with policymakers and the public, being a page is an excellent opportunity and could lead to future job opportunities in the Legislature.
Pages need to be at least 18 years of age and have graduated from high school. Pages must have a valid Alaska driver's license and clean driving record. Pages are responsible for their own transportation to and from Juneau, as well as securing their own living arrangements.
To get more information on the Senate Page program, contact Sheyna Imm in Sen. John Cowdery's office at (907) 269-0222. She can also be reached via e-mail at Sheyna_Imm@legis.state.ak.us.
How to reach me
My Homer, Kodiak and Juneau Capitol Building offices will be open through the remainder of the interim to help you with matters related to state government.
You can contact me in Homer at 235-0690. E-mail me anytime at Senator_Gary_
My interim address is Sen. Gary Stevens, 112 Mill Bay Road, Kodiak, AK 99615.
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