Juneau lawmakers warn of tight state budget; prioritize education, housing and flood relief

Juneau City and Borough Assembly members heard an overview of this year’s state and federal priorities on Jan. 23 as state legislators and the city’s lobbyists described a smaller legislative budget picture and said they will press for education, housing and flood relief funding.

Sen. Jesse Kiel, addressing the assembly, said the Senate majority is bipartisan and that the state faces a larger budget gap than last year. “The revenue picture ain’t as pretty this year as it was last year,” Kiel said, adding that the governor’s December budget shows about $1.5 billion in red ink and that actual supplemental needs likely push toward $1.7 billion.

The funding outlook matters for local priorities the delegation raised: long-term mitigation of glacial lake outburst flooding at the Mendenhall area; housing projects and infrastructure; education funding; and targeted disaster-relief supplemental requests. “We’re gonna be advocating for both more money into the statewide fund as well as specific disaster responses in my community,” Kiel said about the state disaster fund and requests tied to Juneau.

Rep. Andy Story, who told the assembly he is co-chairing the House education committee this year, said the House will take up an…