On Feb. 23, 1987, Alaska House lawmakers voted 22-17 to transfer all of the $426 million from the Alaska budget reserve to the general fund to cover state bills. However, the clause that would have made the bill effective immediately after it was passed by both the Legislature and Gov. Steve Cowper was not passed, meaning that the bill will not go into effect until 90 days after Cowper’s signature and therefore not in time to stop a state cash flow crisis predicted to occur on March 9.
The University of Alaska Board of Regents approved UA President Donald O’Dowd’s recommendations for restructuring but was unhappy with Cowper’s recent proposed budget cut, which would mean the Alaskan schools would be cut from about $10 million in funds. Regent Gordon Evans of Juneau described the 12-hour long special meeting, noting the unsupportive reaction to the Cowper Administration’s suggestion. The Board of Regents planned to request their normal funding, $143.5 million.
In Juneau, more budget business was being taken care of. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly sent out its annual municipal budget survey hoping to get more guidance on potential budget cuts. Deputy Mayor Jamie Parsons called the survey “the most important” budget survey sent out over the past eight years because of the many cuts Juneau was facing.
“This Day in Juneau History” is compiled by Empire freelancer Tasha Elizarde, who sums up the day’s events — 30 years ago — by perusing Empire archives.
