House wants school money

$84.5 million increase unanimously approved

By JEN RANSOM-Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU -- Months before the norm calls for budget appropriations to be considered, the House of Representatives voted unanimously to increasing funding by $84.5 million to K-12 education and $15.8 to the University of Alaska next year.

The House authorized dipping into the Constitutional Budget Reserve in order to pay for these increases; the use of the CBR requires a three-quarters vote and is usually protected by the minority party until the end of budget discussions in May, due to the reserve's political clout.

"The minority sets aside its CBR shield," said House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz. "There's great risk in that."

Members of the minority party referred to the CBR sweep as an "olive branch;" a similar attempt to open up the use of the CBR was voted on in the Senate last week, and failed. Members of the House reportedly hope their legislative counterparts will set aside differences and put faith into the majority party's promise to still work with Democrats on important capital projects even after the power of the CBR is relinquished.

"When we work together, we can move ahead," said Berkowitz.

The recent appropriation joins other school funding legislation this session on the fast-track through the legislative process with district representatives hoping that a final decision will be made quickly, so districts can balance their budgets. Uncertainties about funding have caused unrest in our local district; the Mat-Su Borough School Board has chosen to postpone the possible $8 million in budget cuts needed to balance the fiscal year 2005 budget with hopes that the state will come through.

In order to become law, the increase must first pass through the Senate, and then be authorized by Governor Frank Murkowski, who has the power to veto. If it becomes law, the appropriation, through HB 233, would allow the education foundation formula to increase to $4,588 per student.

Two local representatives are in favor of the increase; Rep. Vic Kohring is one of the co-sponsors of HB 233, and Rep. Carl Gatto voiced his support of the bill Monday evening, making reference to a man whom he feels would have been proud of the legislative cohesiveness the two parties shared.

"Dr. Seuss would, I think, have certainly applauded us for the work we do," said Gatto. "So on behalf of him I would like to thank all of you who have come together, as a group, and thought about the children in our state."