Budget includes new trooper posts, investigators and $58M for housing programs

The FY2026 budget highlights several public safety enhancements and housing investments. Lacey Sanders said the proposal adds a new trooper post in the Talkeetna area, three new state trooper investigator positions targeted at crimes against children in the Northwest Arctic region, and increases village public safety officers (VPSOs) from 85 to 90. The Department of Public Safety capital request includes funds to purchase a Pilatus aircraft to support emergency response capacity.

On housing, Sanders said the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation would receive roughly $58 million for homelessness programs, rural professional housing and other affordability initiatives. Governor Dunleavy framed these items as part of a broader effort to strengthen public safety and community stability while arguing that resource development will generate the revenues needed to sustain public services.

Reporters asked how the administration will reconcile statutory spending obligations, the PFD and these program priorities; Dunleavy reiterated that following statutory obligations requires tradeoffs between savings and programmatic choices.