News from the Senate Majority

Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

For Immediate Release: March 20, 1997 Contact: Senator Drue Pearce 907/465-4993

Senate Finance Committee Releases Agency Spending Targets

Moving Toward A Smaller, Smarter Government

JUNEAU - In keeping with the Republican Majority’s Five-Year Financial Plan to close Alaska’s fiscal gap, Senate Finance Co-chair Drue Pearce Thursday released operating budget subcommittee appropriation targets for fiscal year 1998 that continue the Senate Majority’s commitment to further reduce the state budget.

The reduced operating budget, combined with proposed capital and debt service spending, keeps the Senate Majority on target to reach their $60 million reduction goal for fiscal year 1998.

Senator Pearce noted that this year’s budget process marks a shift in the way the Senate finance subcommittees reviewed fiscal information from agencies and the public on the Governor's requested budget. Rather than make across-the-board cuts, the subcommittees will prioritize programs in order of importance within each agency.

"Budgets are currently built within departmental borders, rather than by reviewing program categories that span several agencies," said Pearce. "It is our goal to move toward a more program-oriented system of budgeting. This will provide the framework for the Legislature to "protect" high priority programs against significant cuts and more easily reduce funding for lower priorities."

"Alaskans voted to send a larger majority of Republicans to Juneau. We consider that an acceptance and approval of our efforts to balance the state’s budget and close the budget gap," Pearce said. "As we incorporate this new approach, we will create a smaller and smarter government by eliminating overlap and duplicative efforts between agencies, and trimming areas we feel are inefficient or are nonessential functions of government."

"The spending priorities we defined in our budget include education, public safety, and our transportation system with emphasis on maintenance of our roads and airports. All other spending is on the table," said Pearce.

Now that the caps have been determined, subcommittees will bring recommendations to meet these caps to the full Committee, explained Pearce.

"These caps constitute a starting point for further debate," said Pearce. "Public input gathered from letters, POM's, subcommittee meetings, and from a statewide teleconference on April 5, may point out concerns, better priorities, or options. The only real firm priority is that the overall $60 million reduction be maintained and achieved," said Pearce.

Attached below are the fiscal year 1998 general fund targets.

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Broadcast Note: Radio Actualities are available by calling 800/478-6540

 


Senate Finance Committee FY 98 General Fund Targets
(in $1,000's)
Administration

Governor Target = 173,161.7

FY97 Authorized = 172,904.1

House Target = 171,761.7

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = - 1,142.4
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 1,400.0

 Senate Target = 171,661.7

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = - 1,242.4
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 1,500.0
Commerce Governor Target = 37,669.3

FY97 Authorized = 38,558.0

 House Target = 35,669.3

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = - 2,888.7
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 2,000.0

 Senate Target = 37,584.3

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = - 973.7
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 85.0

Community & Regional Affairs
(Includes NO Welfare Reform Savings)

 Governor Target = 27,707.5

FY97 Authorized = 28,109.1

 House Target = 25,907.5

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = - 2,201.6
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 1,800.0

 Senate Target = 27,207.5

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = - 901.6
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 500.0
Muni Assistance/Revenue Sharing BRU Governor Target = 52,640.1

FY97 Authorized = 53,872.3

 To be decided in full committee To be decided in full committee
Corrections Governor Target = 133,853.7

FY97 Authorized = 132,463.4

 House Target = 128,853.7

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = - 3,609.7
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 5,000.0

 Senate Target = 128,853.7

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = - 3,609.7
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 5,000.0
Courts Governor Target = 52,400.8

FY97 Authorized = 48,984.4

 House Target = 50,400.8

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = 1,415.4
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 2,000.0

 Senate Target = 50,400.8

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = 1,416.4
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 2,000.0
Education Governor Target = 26,874.6

FY97 Authorized = 26,597.6

 House Target = 25,874.6

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = - 723.0
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 1,000.0

 Senate Target = 24,274.6

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = - 2,323.0
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 2,600.0
K-12 Foundation Formula BRU Governor Target = 675,199.9

FY97 Authorized = 660,122.9

 To be decided in full committee To be decided in full committee
Environmental Conservation Governor Target = 15,622.3

FY97 Authorized = 15,904.8

 House Target = 14,622.3

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = - 1,282.5
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 1,000.0

 Senate Target = 14,622.3

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = - 1,282.5
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 1,000.0
Fish & Game Governor Target = 40,954.2

FY97 Authorized = 39,864.1

 House Target = 40,154.2

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = 290.1
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 800.0

 Senate Target = 38,554.2

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = - 1,309.9
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 2,400.0
Governor Governor Target = 15,737.7

FY97 Authorized = 19,766.7

 House Target = 15,737.7

+ carry forward

 Senate Target = 15,737.7

- carry forward
Health & Social Services Governor Target = 459,551.9

FY97 Authorized = 451,837.3

 House Target = 446,551.9

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = - 5,285.4
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 13,000.0

 Senate Target = 447,551.9

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = - 4,285.4
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 12,000.0
(Includes all Welfare Reform Savings)
Labor Governor Target = 8,894.0

FY97 Authorized = 8,901.3

 House Target = 8,694.0

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = - 207.3
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 200.0

 Senate Target = 8,694.0

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = - 207.3
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 200.0
Law Governor Target = 30,985.2

FY97 Authorized = 32,432.7

 House Target = 29,485.2

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = - 2,947.5
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 1,500.0

 Senate Target = 29,185.2

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = - 3,247.5
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 1,800.0
Legislature Governor Target = 31,113.4

FY97 Authorized = 31,113.4

 House Target = 32,004.4

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = 891.0
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = 891.0

 Senate Target = 30,538.2

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = - 575.2
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 575.2
Military & Veterans Affairs Governor Target = 7,375.5

FY97 Authorized = 7,084.9

 House Target = 7,225.5

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = 140.6
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 150.0

 Senate Target = 7,125.5

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = 40.6
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 250.0
Natural Resources Governor Target = 42,294.0

FY97 Authorized = 43,599.6

 House Target = 41,544.0

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = - 2,055.6
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 750.0

 Senate Target = 41,644.0

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = - 1,955.6
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 650.0
Public Safety Governor Target = 87,454.8

FY97 Authorized = 86,085.2

 House Target = 86,504.8

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = 419.6
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 950.0

 Senate Target = 86,451.8

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = 366.6
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 1,003.0
Revenue Governor Target = 12,179.5

FY97 Authorized = 12,162.8

 House Target = 11,679.5

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = - 483.3
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 500.0

 Senate Target = 11,729.5

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = - 433.3
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 450.0
Transportation Governor Target = 128,810.6

FY97 Authorized = 128,179.0

 House Target = 128,185.6

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = 6.6
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 625.0

 Senate Target = 127,810.6

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = - 368.4
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 1,000.0
University Governor Target = 167,693.6

FY97 Authorized = 167,693.6

 House Target = 165,193.6

FY98 House to FY97 Authorized = - 2,500.0
FY98 House to FY98 Governor = - 2,500.0

 Senate Target = 163,501.3

FY98 Senate to FY97 Authorized = - 4,192.3
FY98 Senate to FY98 Governor = - 4,192.3
Special Subcommittees     Economic Development = - 3,000.0
Information Technologies = - 1,000.0
Total   - 34,384.0 - 41,205.5