Assembly Seeks Solution to Governor Vetoes

Last night's Special Assembly Meeting had only one item on the agenda, to discuss the FY17 budget and the effect Governor Walker's vetoes would have on it. Municipalities across  Alaska are feeling the strain as some of the State’s fiscal burdens are shifted onto them. The Mat-Su Borough wasn’t left out. For the School District, $1.4 million was cut from Pupil Transportation with another $821,830 from the Foundation Program. The Mat-Su Borough took a giant cut from School Bond Debt Reimbursement that totals $5.7 million.

The meeting was divided into four parts. Borough lobbyist, John Harris started things off with an inside view of the legislature in Juneau and provided several scenarios that could unfold there during the Special Session beginning July 11. John Moosey was next and covered borough operations internally. Superintendent Gene Stone and Assistant Superintendent Luke Fulp talked about how the school was handling their cuts and the potential fallout. The Assembly used their time to ask questions of the speakers in an effort to completely understand the situation. Even though John Harris believes there still may be hope in a solution being found in Juneau,  Moosey doesn’t want to depend on it. “I’m keeping all my dollars in my pocket because I’m not betting that will happen.”