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Ethics office reports budget surplus, staff hire and subcommittee progress
Summary
Committee staff reported a FY25 surplus of about $63,437, described a one‑year staffing hire to address backlog, and summarized progress on three subcommittees (legislative changes, rules review and travel policy).
Staff told the Legislative Ethics Committee that the office closed FY25 with a surplus and that a one-year staff position has been funded to address a backlog following recent personnel turnover.
Kevin Reeve reported a FY25 surplus of roughly $63,437, attributing the surplus to a vacant administrator position and limited travel spending; he said the office intentionally purchased commodities (printer cartridges) as it anticipated surplus funds. Reeve also explained that LedgeCouncil provided a $70,000 one-time authorization to fund a one-year position for the new hire.
Joyce Anderson introduced the committee’s newest staff member, Jamie (introduced in the meeting as Jamie Bennett; the staff member self-identified as "Jamie Benton"), whom staff brought on to organize files and address backlog. Jamie described her background, saying she retired from the U.S. Army on August 1 after 25 years and that she was working on travel and retention policy outlines and organizing the file room. Staff praised her for a quick start: Reeve said Jamie already has a “shell outline of the travel policy,” is working on retention policy documentation and has helped reduce a backlog of old records.
Staff also summarized subcommittee work: the rules-of-procedure review subcommittee has completed review of the first 13 sections, and the travel-policy subcommittee has agreed on high-level topics and is drafting guidance (Jamie is assisting). The committee tentatively scheduled a follow-up meeting in mid-November to receive subcommittee reports and possibly to hear Sealaska’s internship presentation.
No formal budget changes were adopted at the meeting; staff said they will proceed with the funded one‑year position and continue developing subcommittee drafts for committee review.
