(Juneau) - With adoption this morning of the free conference committee report on SB 125 by the State Senate, the Legislature is virtually finished with its work on a three-pronged package of support for local governments.
These issues are welded together at the local level, and so are addressed as a package. I sincerely appreciate all the fine work done by so many legislators and other interested parties to reach this milestone.
~ Rep. John Harris
Those three legs are: SB 125, funding for shortfalls in public employees and teachers retirement systems (PERS and TRS); HB 273, K-12 education funding; and SB 72, revenue sharing with municipalities and communities. The only work remaining is for the House to concur with the committee report on SB 125, which is expected to be taken up on Monday, March 17.
"Passage of this package of bills – the so-called three-legged stool that nearly brought the Legislature to an impasse last year – is a signal to local communities that their needs are among our highest priorities," said Speaker John Harris, R-Valdez. "These issues are welded together at the local level, and so are addressed as a package. I sincerely appreciate all the fine work done by so many legislators and other interested parties to reach this milestone."
I truly believe these three pieces of legislation will be the hallmark of the 25th Alaska Legislature. Large and small communities, both urban and rural, will realize a higher standard of living in the years ahead.
~ Sen. Lyda Green
"I truly believe these three pieces of legislation will be the hallmark of the 25th Alaska Legislature," said President Lyda Green, R-Wasilla. "Large and small communities, both urban and rural, will realize a higher standard of living in the years ahead."
Senate Bill 72 will restore community revenue sharing at $60 million per year over the next three years. It provides a formula that includes a basic amount for each community, and then a second portion based on population. The funding will help local communities pay for core government services. Funding for the next three fiscal years is included in SB 256, the supplemental budget, on which the House is expected to take action within the week.
House Bill 273 makes numerous improvements to the state's programs that provide aid to K-12 education. The changes include: $100 increase per year over the next three years to the base student allocation (BSA); increases in funding for pupil transportation and intensive needs students; updating area cost factors over five years; and holding harmless school districts that are experiencing declining enrollment.
Senate Bill 125 makes a commitment of more than $400 million per year to the PERS/TRS unfunded liability. It also enacts uniform contribution rates of 22 percent for PERS and 12.56 percent for TRS.
