State lawmaker briefs Ketchikan council on budget, gas‑line talks and school funding

A state lawmaker delivered a roughly hour‑long legislative update to the Ketchikan City Council on Aug. 6, saying the Legislature remains in special session while leaders negotiate a proposed natural‑gas pipeline and other budget items. He told the council the state operating revenue used in the mid‑year analysis was about $16,500,000,000 and that the Permanent Fund dividend this year was set at $1,000.

The lawmaker ran through legislation he sponsored and supported, including HB75 (PFD eligibility fixes), HB28 (moving schools' energy costs into a separate energy‑grant program), and other education provisions intended to relieve pressure on school budgets. On the gas‑line debate, he summarized revenue estimates and tax structures and said, “under full production, we're estimating the close to $1,000,000,000 of additional revenue, through the state.” He also flagged several grant and funding opportunities for the city—citing a CPV block grant and a $2,000,000 renewable‑energy fund award for a Ketchikan substation—and encouraged local leaders to pursue matching projects and applications.

The lawmaker answered council questions about tax splits, timelines for revenue, and how alternate tax structures (a volumetric tax) might affect communities outside major project facilities. He closed by inviting council members and residents to contact him directly with local priorities while the Legislature continues work in special session.