Senate Majority Coalition Website

State Senator District E

Senate Majority Leader

 

Senator Cathy Giessel Newsletter

UPDATES



Issues affecting

your family, community and jobs.

January 18, 2024

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,



Welcome to the 2nd session of the 33rd Legislature! Things are busy already; everyone is here to work and get things done.

 

You see first item is analysis of Governor's Budget. You can see on the first "spreadsheet" that FY 25 Governor budget has "full" PFD (line 15) costing $2.303.7 Billion. That leaves a deficit (line 20) of $982.3 Million.

 

The Governor proposes getting that nearly $1 Billion shortfall out of the savings accounts; you see those balances at the right (Reserve Balances). The SBR (Statutory Budget Reserve) is empty. The CBR (Constitutional Budget Reserve has about $2.3 Billion in it; it would be nearly cut in half by a $1 Billion withdrawal. The CBR is used to cover cash flow during the fiscal year and should have a minimum of about $2.5 Billion in it; many states have required minimums in their reserve accounts but we do not have that requirement. The ERA (Earnings Reserve Account) is the spendable part of the Permanent Fund.

 

The graph below the spread sheet is labeled "Swoop Graph". This compares the budget we are in right now (FY24) in red to the Governor's proposed budget for next year (FY25) in blue. Nearly all departments are reduced or same as last year, except for PFD which is twice last year's cost (farthest left bars).

 

The rest of the report takes you into the details of the proposed budget.

 

Items in this Newsletter:

·     Legislative Analyst's Overview of Gov.'s Budget

·     Legislative Audit Released Reports

·     DOT Snow Removal Information

·     Alaska Upcoming Health Fairs

·     Youth Employment in Parks 2024

·     Senate Committee Meetings

·     Current Topics: Education, Economy, Minerals,

Health Care, Politics

·     Resource Values, Permanent Fund

·     Alaska History

Legislative Fiscal Analyst's

Overview of the Governor's Requested Budget

 

 

Alaska Budget Choices 2.0- Build your ideal budget

Alaska DOT Questions on Snow Removal

 

·     What to communicate to constituents about how to report sidewalks needing to be plowed? 

 

To report sidewalks in need of plowing and other snow removal needs on state roads, residents can call the Anchorage District Maintenance Station at (907) 338-1466 or email the department at dot.ask@alaska.gov

 

·     What additional funding is needed to do snow removal better? What are the incremental improvements for additional funding amounts that can be provided to help in funding decisions? 

 

Thank you for the opportunity to answer this question due to the issues we’ve been experiencing in Anchorage this winter. Governor Dunleavy’s proposed budget includes nearly $1M in proposed funding for emergency snow removal. This is a good starting point for a conversation on snow removal needs and we look forward to engaging with legislators on this topic during the upcoming session. 

 

·     How do roads get moved up on the priority list? What additional information can be provided on this? Can the results of last year’s winter maintenance priority survey be shared? 

 

Winter maintenance road priorities are determined by many factors such as traffic volume, emergency services, school, and business access, and have to be balanced against the needs on other roads and operational logistics. In general, moving roads up on the priority list will mean others will have to move down.  

Road Priority Method

Public Webinar on the Turnagain Pass Corridor Master Plan Project

 

As a follow up the engagement work we did in the summer and fall of 2023, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, US Forest Service, and the Federal Highway Administration would like to invite you to public webinar on the Turnagain Pass Corridor Master Plan project scheduled for January 22nd, 2024 from 12PM-1PM (Alaska Time).

 

The webinar will re-introduce the project, the findings from Phase 1 of the project, and outline planned work and engagement opportunities in 2024. There will also be plenty of time for questions and discussion between attendees and the project team. The purpose is to provide a check in with everyone who is interested in the project on what we have heard through the existing conditions, data collection, and engagement activities in 2023 and how this information informs Phase 2 (identifying a needs and opportunities list, developing conceptual designs and cost estimates, and engagement throughout). More importantly, we want to hear what you think, how you would like to engage in 2024, and how you would like to be engaged in 2024.

 

Join ZoomGov Meeting

Meeting ID: 161 354 9442

Passcode: 768588

 

Additionally, the project website will be updated with the three Phase 1 deliverables of existing conditions (currently posted), data collection, and engagement activities summary.

 

Dear Friends, Happy New Year!

 

As we step into 2024, we're thrilled to unveil our new schedule of health fairs and affordable blood tests, kicking off in just a couple of weeks! This season is all about renewal, wellness, and community spirit. We eagerly invite you to be a part of our journey, whether as an attendeevolunteer, or exhibitor.

 

January is also Mental Health Awareness Month, a vital reminder to care for our mental well-being. We encourage you to explore our article on this topic offering simple practices for daily joy and balance.

 

Affordable Blood Tests Available at All Events

·     27 panels - Comprehensive Blood Chemistry Screen - covers infection, anemia, liver disease, clotting ability, kidney and adrenal function, liver function, bone disease, tissue disease or damage, heart function, liver function, muscle function, coronary heart disease, & more - $45 

·     Thyroid Screen - $35 

·     Prostate Disease Screen - $25 

·     Vitamin D Screen - $50 

·     A1C diabetes - $25

·     Blood Typing - $20

More tests and details on our website, www.alaskahealthfair.org.

Youth Employment in Parks (YEP) is a 10 week summer program that hires Anchorage teens to complete park improvement projects. Teens learn natural resource management job skills by building trails and restoring stream banks while increasing civic engagement, environmental awareness, and leadership skills. YEP is designed to positively engage a new generation of diverse young leaders as conservation stewards of public lands through meaningful job training, employment and education.

 

YEP crew members represent all neighborhoods and communities in Anchorage. To become a YEP crew member you must meet the following qualifications:

• A resident of the Municipality of Anchorage

• 16-19 years old

• Completed or pursuing your high school or GED education

YEP crew members develop job skills by working on Anchorage municipal park improvement projects. Projects may include soft-surface trail construction and rehabilitation, stream bank and habitat restoration, park beautification, and landscaping. Check out the 2021 YEP Annual Report to learn more about past completed projects and crew members.

 

YEP Crew Member – Position Closes 3/17/2024

 

YEP Senior Crew Member- Position Closes 3/17/2024

 

YEP Crew Leader  - Open Until Filled

Senate Committee Meetings

January 17

 In this section of the Newsletter, you will find links to actual committee hearings that have taken place during the previous week (in this case the 2 days of session so far. At these links you can also access "documents" which are the powerpoint presentations.

 

Finance

Jan. 17- Overview: Production Forecast by Alaska Department of Natural Resources

 

 

Education

Jan. 17- Presentation: Student Absenteeism by Attendee Works

 

 

Judiciary

Jan. 17- SB 28 Workplace Violence Protective Orders

 

 

Resources

Jan. 17- Overview: Committee Discussion of Resource Topics

Current Topics

Participating in Dry January? Anchorage has more options then ever. ADN

 

Alaska beekeepers kill their colonies every fall, but an Anchorage man has another way. Alaska Public Media

 

Why flying is safest. Axios

No one credibly complained that safety culture had gone too far.

(My comment: Under-appreciated are the skilled pilots and flight attendants who respond to challenges, large and small, every day.)

 

Major winter storm hits Juneau, sinking 3 docked boats. Alaska's News Source

A prolonged winter storm is piling multiple feet of snow in some areas of Southeast Alaska, leading the National Weather Service to issue a winter storm warning for Juneau and Petersburg. NWS described the storm as a “long duration snow event.” The quick accumulation of snow is contributing to dangerous winter conditions like heavy snow, ice and low visibility in the area, prompting Juneau officials to urge residents to avoid driving or leaving home if possible.

 

Following back-to-back avalanches, Juneau officials warn of potential future dangers. Alaska's News Source

 

Tips to avoid slipping on ice. KSRM

“Research out of Nordic countries and the UK shows that there’s double to triple the number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to falls from ice and snow.” said Phelan.

 

 

Energy

As ConocoPhillips' Willow project advances, two local governments have withdrawn their criticism. Northern Journal

 

 

Economy

New legislation aims to address $1.5B University of Alaska maintenance backlog. Alaska Public Media

 

Alaska's working-age population continues its long decline, a headwind for the economy. ADN

Alaska’s working-age population continued its long-term decline in 2023 as more people continue to leave the state than move here, according to annual data released this month by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The shortage of working-age residents, those between the ages of 18 and 64, is holding back economic growth, economists and business leaders say.

(My comment: This is affecting our snow removal crews, professional licensing staff, police forces, teachers, firefighting response and much, much more.)

 

Alaska population remained similar in size from 2022-2023. Alaska Department of Labor

 

The 2023 bank bailout bill arrives. Axios

America's biggest banks each took a 10-figure hit to their earnings last quarter to cover the cost of bailing out uninsured depositors at Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.  The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is designed to reassure banks' customers that their deposits are safe. Its insurance fund held $119.3 billion at the end of the third quarter, including $3.2 billion that banks paid into the fund as their regular quarterly insurance premiums. That means the fund stands at 1.13% of America's insured deposits, below its target of 1.35%.

 

 

Fisheries

Salmon compete with mining companies as melting glaciers reveal new habitat. Alaska Public Media

 

 

Politics

New ballot initiative aims to increase Alaska's minimum wage and require sick leave. Alaska's News Source

 

Kodiak Island's legislators highlight education funding and state employee pensions during preview of legislative session. KMXT

 

State legislators, governor speak on priorities in preparation for session's start. Alaska's News Source

 

Senate Majority Discusses Second Legislative Session. KSRM

 

Alaska Legislature convenes session focused on education and energy issues. ADN

 

As legislative session opens, Alaska House Republicans reject attempt to override school funds veto. Alaska Beacon

“That will be one of the key points, the bellwether of where things are going, if we can come to some reasonable accommodation and agreement on that issue,”

 

U.S. Supreme Court decision kills controversial Alaska union dues plan for now. Alaska Beacon

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by the state of Alaska in a long-running dispute with the state’s public employees unions, likely ending an attempt by Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration to unilaterally rewrite the rules governing public employees’ membership in their unions.

 

 

Health Care

State report: Adult Protective Services allowed an elderly Alaskan to die 'alone, in squalor, or hypothermia'. ADN

 

Alaska adults of childbearing age advised to get frequent testing for syphilis. Alaska Beacon

With cases of syphilis skyrocketing, including dangerous infections that are passed from pregnant women to their infants, new recommendations have been issued for much more widespread testing for the disease.

Alaska Oil Resource Values

 

Alaska North Slope crude oil price (1/17/24): $78.42

FY24 budget (beginning 7/1) is fully funded at forecast $73/barrel oil.

Price on 9/30/23: $87.99

Price on 9/30/22: $86.91

Price on 6/29/22: $116.84

Price on 3/8/22: $125.44

Price on 12/22/21: $75.55

ANS production (1/16/24): 442.166 bpd

 

State and federal agencies respond to spill of light oil on North Slope. ADN

 

Oil's furious stasis and more petro-notes. Axios

Countervailing forces are battling to a draw in oil markets. Since late 2023 and well into the new year, prices have traded within a rather narrow range, despite fluctuating risks of escalation of the Israel-Hamas war. Early Wednesday, Brent crude hovered around $76 per barrel.

 

Precious Metal Prices

Jan. 17, 2024

Gold - $2007.30

Silver - $22.52

Platinum - $883.00

Palladium - $911.00

 

Alaska Permanent Fund

website

 

Fund value December 22 - $78,666,900,000

PFD payout from ERA, Fiscal years 1980-2024: $29.7 Billion

Cost of PFD in Oct. 2022: $2.2 B

Cost of PFD Oct. 6, 2023: $881.5 Million



Alaska History

 

·     January 18, 1959, Direct long-distance phone service to Alaska began.

 

·     January 23, First SUNRISE of the year in Utqiagvik

 

·     January 24, 1921, Alaska's first pulp mill opened in Juneau

Feedback is always welcome.

Have a great week!

 

Cathy 

 

Personal Contact:

907.465.4843

sen.cathy.giessel@akleg.gov

 

Past Newsletters on my website



My Staff:

·     Chief of Staff: Jane Conway (from Soldotna)

·     Office Manager: Paige Brown (from Anchorage/Girdwood)

·     Resources Committee Staff: Julia O'Connor (from Juneau)

·     Legislative Analyst: Angela Rodell (from Juneau)

 

 

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Senator Cathy Giessel's Newsletter | 12701 Ridgewood Rd, Anchorage, AK 99516