Alaska House committee approves $7.5 million more for child care facilities

Members of the Alaska House Finance Committee revised their latest budget draft Tuesday to include more money for child care and eliminate funding for an experimental reading institute operated by the state.

The committee spent most of the day Tuesday debating amendments to the state’s operating budget, an $11.3 billion document that pays for state services and Permanent Fund dividends during the 12 months that begin July 1.

The committee is expected to consider additional amendments through Wednesday at least, and the budget would then advance to the full House for additional amendments and a vote.

At the urging of Reps. Alyse Galvin, I-Anchorage, and Julie Coulombe, R-Anchorage, the committee voted to add $7.5 million to the budget for grants to child care centers.

Galvin suggested adding $15 million, but that idea was halved at Coulombe’s suggestion.

The Anchorage Republican is pursuing separate legislation that would provide tax credits to companies that offer child care for their employees.

In a separate amendment, committee members cut $5 million requested by Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration for the Alyeska Reading Academy, an Anchorage facility intended to train teachers and offer tutoring for students.

Legislators, including many Republicans, have voiced skepticism about the academy, saying that they believe the state Department of Education and Early Development should be sending tutors and trainers to rural school districts, not operating a brick-and-mortar facility that requires operational spending.

Rep. Dan Ortiz, I-Ketchikan, proposed the funding cut and said he doesn’t believe the academy — which remains partially staffed — can fulfill its stated objectives.

“How are they going to push the ball, how are they going to move the ball in terms of increasing our kids’ ability to read statewide? Not going to happen. It’s just not going to happen, folks,” he said.

Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, said on Tuesday that he feels the administration misled the committee about the structure and purpose of the reading academy.

“I still feel duped, I really do,” he said.

Members of the committee also cut $1.5 million earmarked for the state’s “statehood defense” program, which funds lawsuits against the federal government, and it cut two Department of Law positions intended to assist grand jury investigations.

The changes implemented by the finance committee could be reversed or further altered next week, when the full House votes on the budget.

Once passed by the House, the budget will advance to the Senate, which will draft a competing version, and the two versions must be reconciled into a final document before the end of the legislative session.

Dunleavy may then reduce — but not increase — line items in that final budget.