Nome Democratic Rep. Neal Foster, a committee co-chair, said education is a priority for the House majority.
“Stability is an issue when the school districts need to build their budgets,” he said. “We felt it’s important that with the amount of money that’s coming into the coffers, now is a good time to provide that stability to school districts.”the state will receive in its spring revenue update on Tuesday.Committee member Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, said the Legislature should take a cautious approach in how it plans for oil revenue that may never materialize.
“We come from a commercial fishing background, and I have yet to see a commercial fisherman spend money before his net goes in the water,” he said. He also wants the Legislature to pass the two permanent fund payments he’s proposed, totaling $3,700. The forecast didn’t change the House Finance Committee’s approach to the dividend. The committee is proposing a one-time energy relief check that would be the same size as the dividend it’s proposing. The total would be roughly $2,500.
The committee’s current plan is to consider amendments to the budget on Monday. Once the committee finishes its work on the budget bill, the entire House will vote on it, before it goes to the Senate.