Governor signs state budget after vetoes of Permanent Fund transfer, community and school funds

Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed a Fiscal Year 2021 state budget Tuesday, approving $4.517 billion in Undesignated General Funds after vetoing money for municipal school bond debt reimbursement, community assistance, K-12 education along with funds for construction of a rural school.

In a noon press conference the governor said he expects the funds for municipalities and schools to made up with new federal money appropriated for Alaska in recently-enacted COVID-19 emergency funds. If the federal money does not appear or is used for some other purpose the vetoes may result in increases in local property taxes.

Dunleavy also vetoed a $1 billion transfer of funds from the Permanent Fund’s earnings reserve to the principal of the Fund.

Since money can be appropriated from the earnings reserve but not the Fund’s principal Dunleavy said it was prudent to leave the money in the reserve in case it is needed to respond to the state’s current economic and health emergency.

“My administration worked to make a number of difficult, but necessary, decisions. The actions I’ve taken with this budget provide stability in times of uncertainty and allows our state agencies to maintain their core functions of serving Alaskans,” the governor said in a statement.

“We have been presented the unique opportunity to capitalize on a one-time fund source through the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, allowing us to reshape pieces of the final FY 2021 budget. Now, as we face a drop in oil prices and face a global health pandemic, is not the time to irresponsibly increase our State’s budget,” the governor said. By reducing the draw of state funds and replacing them with federal money there will be more flexibility for a state response to the COVID-19 emergency, he said.

Dunleavy also spoke again to the need for a higher Permanent Fund Dividend, which not has more urgency given the state’s deteriorating economic condition.

“This (budget) bill was sent to me with an estimated $1,000 dividend — once again ignoring the decades-old statutory calculation that is still in place, and just as importantly, ignoring the catastrophic fiscal realities of thousands of out-of-work Alaskans unable to buy food and pay rent due to the government-mandated economic slowdown. If ever there was a time to follow the statutes and put Alaskans first, now is the time,” the governor said.

“Our state constitution gives the governor the power to subtract, not add to the budget. Though many Alaskans have asked me to pay out the full PFD, this is something I can’t do without the Legislature supporting the PFD.”

“With the Legislature still in session, it is my hope, and the hope of thousands of Alaskans, that they act now to fix this glaring oversight,” the governor said. “All across the world, leaders and economists are looking to mimic the PFD. Yet here in Alaska, our leaders are doing the opposite. I will continue to call on the Legislature to follow the law, utilize the statutory calculation for the Permanent Fund Dividend, and get money into the hands of laid off workers throughout Alaska.

“Call it a PFD, call it a distribution, call it a COVID-19 emergency relief payment; it does not matter. We must act now to help our fellow Alaskans. I remain committed to working with Alaskans and the Legislature to address State spending so we can eliminate our deficit over time. It is critical that we get our fiscal house in order and provide a secure and stable future for Alaskans,” the governor said.

HB 205 as passed by the Legislature, added $314 million of new spending items to the FY 2021 operating budget, which represents an unsustainable, and in many cases, unnecessary level of spending. Through line-item vetoes to HB 205, Governor Dunleavy reduced the spend by $210 million in unrestricted general funds (UGF). With these vetoes, the FY 2021 operating, mental health, and capital budget, including previously enacted legislation, is $4,517.3M UGF, $905.9M Designated General funds (DGF), $748.4M Other State funds, and $3,855.5M Federal funds.

Key programs and services funded in HB 205:

• $99 million to COVID-19 response and relief

• $135.6 million to Alaska State Troopers

• $14 million to Village Public Safety Officer Program

• $5 million to Disaster Relief Fund

• $5 million to Fire Risk Reduction Funding

• $34.8 million to Pioneer Homes

• $54 million to the Alaska Marine Highway System

• $1.26 billion to fully fund Education Foundation Formula

• $28.5 million to Behavioral Health Programs

• $7.2 million to Homeless Assistance Program

• $65 million for Capital Federal Match Program to Highways and Aviation

Line-item vetoes in this bill include:

• The reduction of debt payments on behalf of other entities, which are not a core function of the State while facing fiscal uncertainty;

• A reduction in funding to the University of Alaska to the level agreed to in the 2019 compact between the University of Alaska Board of Regents and the Office of the Governor; and

• The elimination of one-time State general funds for programs that may qualify for funding under the Federal CARES Act.