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Parent urges borough to fund Kodiak school district at 96% of maximum to offset state cut
Summary
Mike Lizzo, a member of the Kodiak Island Borough School Board speaking as a parent, asked the assembly to keep local funding for the school district at 96% of the allowed maximum to offset an expected state reduction of roughly $1 million for FY2026, saying the district requested the assembly make up approximately $660,000 of the shortfall.
At the start of the April 24 work session, resident and school-board member Mike Lizzo addressed the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly during citizens’ comments and urged the assembly to maintain local funding for the Kodiak Island Borough School District at 96% of the allowed maximum for FY2026.
Lizzo said an increase in assessed value will reduce state aid to the local district by roughly $1 million for FY2026 and that by funding the school district at 96% of the allowed maximum, the borough would effectively make up about $660,000 of that reduction. He described the request as “conservative and restrained” given the district’s fiscal position and said local commitment to public education matters as state support declines.
Why it matters: The school district’s funding level is a major budget decision for the borough and has direct effects on staffing, programs and services for students. Lizzo framed the request as a choice between keeping the community a low-tax jurisdiction and sustaining educational quality for families.
Assembly response and next steps: The assembly thanked Lizzo for his comments; the item moved on without immediate action. Assemblymembers later discussed special-revenue accounting for school building rent and transfers during the FY2026 budget review; staff noted certain building-related revenues are restricted to buildings-and-grounds purposes.
Ending: Lizzo’s public comment was recorded in the meeting minutes for the record; any formal assembly action on school funding would come later in the FY2026 budget process.
