Dear District 18 Resident:

It's that time of year again when the House Finance subcommittees are finishing their work on the state budget, and the full committee meets to discuss and vote on all the recommendations.

The subcommittee recommendations will be available for you to look at on the Legislative Finance website at http://www.legfin.state.ak.us/. You will find charts showing Fiscal Year 2000 expenditures compared to FY 2001 recommendations, agency responses to the changes in funding, and short narratives about the changes. Subcommittee narratives and charts will be posted by 9:00 a.m. Thursday, March 3rd and agency responses will be posted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 4th.

The "Swiss Army Knife of Budget Handbooks", which is also available on the Legislative Finance website, may be of help to you as you look at this material. It provides short explanations of the appropriations process, the various types of fund sources, and other necessary information to better understand the state budget.

This Saturday, March 4th, the full House Finance Committee will take public testimony from around the state on the subcommittees' budget recommendations. Testimony will be taken from Anchorage residents between the hours of 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office (716 W. 4th Avenue).

On March 7, 8, and 9, the committee members will be discussing those proposals and the public testimony between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m., 1:30 and 4:30 p.m., and from 6:30 p.m.

Should you wish to comment on any of the subcommittees' budget proposals, you are certainly welcome to do so, either through testimony or by sending me an e-mail, letter, or Public Opinion Message. If you would just care to watch the proceedings in the comfort of your own home, Gavel to Gavel is scheduled to televise Saturday's hearing on cable channel 46, and will probably also televise the hearings on March 7, 8, and 9.

If you have any questions about the funding for any state department in general, or a specific program in particular, I will be glad to assist you. Just contact me, either by phone or e-mail. Thank you for your involvement in this important process!

Sincerely,

Con

PRIVACY POLICY: All addresses are "blind" for your privacy. A strict "no spam" policy is observed. If you don't wish to receive "Legislative Update", just let me know. If you know a friend or neighbor in District 18 who has not received "Legislative Update" but would like to be included, I will be glad to include them if they contact me. Your replies, comments, questions, and/or suggestions are welcome. Constituent comments on legislation and policy issues may be tabulated, shared with other legislators, or quoted in speeches. Names, however, will be kept private.

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