Legislators downplay governor's promises

Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU -- Republican legislators in the state met with members of Gov. Frank Murkowski's administration last week to express concerns that the governor may be making promises the Legislature is unable to keep.

Murkowski, earlier this month, revealed a plan to funnel $208 million into the state's education budget, including two increases to the education-funding formula, two package payments to cover increased retirement costs school districts are facing and two additional yearly payments to cover increased costs of fuel, insurance and other operating costs.

"Education is one of my top priorities and I've put my money where my mouth is," Murkowski said. "This school-funding proposal would mean my administration has delivered on a 29-percent increase in per-student education spending during our first four years in office."

On Nov. 17, Murkowski announced he'll be seeking $7.1 million in new funds for state substance abuse and fetal alcohol syndrome prevention efforts. The funding, according to information from Murkowski's office, would allow the Governor's Advisory Board on Alcohol and Drug Abuse to help Alaska communities that choose to prohibit or restrict alcohol sales, and would also help fund statewide and local public education and outreach efforts in preventing FAS and substance abuse.

But some legislators are saying Murkowski is making promises they're not sure the Legislature can keep.

"He promised better communication with legislators," Rep. Vic Kohring, R-Wasilla, said last week. Kohring said he was surprised when Murkowski followed the recent election with a list of ways to spend the extra income flowing into the state through higher oil revenue. Kohring said he supports education funding, but would have preferred to see Murkowski promote his spending plans to the Legislature before announcing those plans to the public.

Rep. John Harris, R-Valdez, is poised to take the House Speaker seat in January. He said he has numerous concerns about promising revenue the state may not be able to spend, but he said Murkowski's announcements are tantamount to pre-budget pronouncements that are par for the political course.

"The governor certainly has a responsibility to propose certain things," Harris said. "Does that mean the Legislature automatically has to approve it? No."

Harris, along with Rep. Norman Rokeberg, R-Anchorage, and former Senate President Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, said the governor may be premature in making announcements about where the surplus -- the amount of which is not yet known -- will be spent. More information is expected to be available when the Alaska Department of Revenue makes its fall forecast, which is expected to be released the second week of December.

Even with a surplus, the state has numerous existing obligations, Rokeberg said, including $80 to $90 million in retirement contributions for public employees and teachers.

Harris said he'd like to see some of the funding go toward maintenance on state buildings, roads and facilities that has been deferred for the past several years, in addition to setting aside money for education and other needed areas, such as health care.

Add to that, Rokeberg said, a desire by at least some legislators and members of the public to set aside some funding for years when oil prices aren't as high, and whatever surplus that may be available is rapidly depleted.

"There is certainly some concern that we not spend or obligate the potential surplus until it is realized," Therriault said. "And there is concern that we not start programs or restart programs until we have the money long term. There's concern that we move very carefully with any potential surplus and not overspend."

Contact Rindi White at rindi.white@frontiersman.com.