Breaking: The Alaska Legislature has finally agreed on a budget deal this evening, ending a special legislative session after one day.
Members of the Alaska House cast a series of votes at the end of the one-day special session on Thursday evening. The House ultimately agreed with the Senate’s budget plan, sending the bill to Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
The main point of contention between the chambers was — again — the size of the Permanent Fund dividend. Since lawmakers stopped in 2017 following the formula written in statute, the size of the annual payment to Alaskans has held up legislative debate and forced numerous special sessions. House members voted just before 7 p.m. Thursday to agree with the Senate’s budget plan in a 26-14 vote. Ten House majority members joined all 16 minority members in voting in favor of the spending plan. It was a vote that put an end to a special session that could have otherwise lasted weeks.
The projects include nearly $5 million for a Talkeetna water and sewer project, $5 million for the reconstruction of the, $5 million for the Wasilla Airport runway extension and $5 million for a Dillingham harbor project, among other items. Even with the additional projects, the budget is not expected to require a draw from savings.
Sens. Elvi Gray-Jackson, Bill Wielechowski, Gary Stevens, Cathy Giessel, Click Bishop and Bert Stedman leave the House speaker's chambers after closed-door negotiations to pass a budget in Juneau on May 18, 2023
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