Published May 18, 2023 by Iris Samuels The Alaska Legislature is set to start a special session Thursday morning after failing to reach agreement on the state budget by the midnight deadline Wednesday that marked the end of the annual regular session.
The House adjourned at 9 p.m. without taking a vote on a budget, three hours after the Senate sent over a take-it-or-leave-it spending plan.
Changes made at the last minute to the Senate’s budget would have provided for an additional payment next year on top of the dividend of up to $500 per Alaskan if the price per barrel of oil exceeds $73 over the fiscal year that starts July 1, leading to more state revenue than currently anticipated.
The changes also included cuts requested by the House to child care and home care funding totaling $15 million, and additional capital projects worth over $30 million for renewable energy projects, the University of Alaska, and trail projects, among other items.
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