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Session: State Capitol, Room 514 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-3709 Fax: (907) 465-4714 Send E-Mail |
For Immediate Release: February 4, 1999
Contact: Senator Gary Wilken at (907) 465-3709.
Juneau -- Senator Gary Wilken (District O, Fairbanks) will direct the Alaska State Senate's work to write the fiscal year 2000 budget for the state departments of education and administration and the court system, Senate Finance Committee Co-Chair Senator Sean Parnell announced today.
Senator Wilken, who serves on the Senate Finance Committee in the Twenty-First Alaska Legislature, was named chair of the subcommittee responsible for holding hearings and developing budget recommendations for the departments of Education and Administration, and the State Court system.
"Education represents the single largest element of the state budget, and the Department of Administration oversees functions that impact the pocketbooks of almost every Alaskan," Senator Wilken said. "I'm pleased to have the opportunity to help write a budget that can balance the people's needs in these areas with the realities of sharply reduced state revenues."
The low price of North Slope crude oil means a $1 billion-plus gap between state income and state expenditures for fiscal year 2000. Last year, the Department of Education had a budget of $966.9 million, including $681 million distributed as foundation formula funds to local schools, and employed 465 people. The Department of Administration had a budget of $256.1 million, and employed 1,262 people. The Court System had a budget of $49.7 million and employed 665 people.
"As subcommittee chair I'll be responsible for detail work of writing the budgets for these departments," Senator Wilken said. "That includes reviewing funding requests from agencies, hearing testimony from department staff, and developing budget recommendations for the full committee to consider."
In addition to his subcommittee assignments, Senator Wilken also serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee, and as a member of the Senate Health, Education and Social Services Committee.
"We're fortunate to have such an experienced legislator helping us make the tough decisions regarding our budget," said Senator Parnell. "We have to make some hard choices about how the state should best use our financial resources."