Council approves up to $70,000 contract for education funding task force report

The Legislative Council approved a professional services contract on Dec. 16 authorizing up to $70,000 to secure the services of Matthew Turner (doing business as Concept of Design) to draft the final report and recommendations for the Joint Legislative Task Force on Education Funding.

Mike Mason, staff to Senator Tobin, briefed the council that the task force was authorized by House Bill 57 and that the co‑chairs asked to secure a skilled writer and education policy expert to document the task force's findings. Mason said the co‑chairs agreed on a flat rate that included travel, with $60,000 covering writing and research and an additional $10,000 included as a not‑to‑exceed amount to cover travel and other expenses.

Members asked about how the dollar figure was derived and whether the flat rate accounts for hours. Senator Stedman said he was curious how the $70,000 number was calculated and called it "high"; Representative Prox asked whether the contract included an estimated number of hours. Mason and other task force staff replied that the arrangement is a flat rate covering several weeks of work spread over the contract term and that the contractor has prior Alaska education policy experience.

The contract motion passed unanimously on a recorded roll call, 12–0. Staff noted the task force's final report is due by the start of the 30 fifth Alaska State Legislature in January 2027 and that the contractor is expected to attend site visits and engage with stakeholders as required by the task force.