Empire Archives is a series printed every Saturday featuring a short compilation of headline stories in the Juneau Empire from archived editions in 1985, 1995, and 2005. The stories include names, AP style, and other content of their eras.
This week in 1985, proposed budget cuts totaling $932,000 will be considered by the Juneau Board of Education at its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Juneau-Douglas High School commons area. The reductions are needed to balance a 1985-86 budget that includes $932,000 less instate and local revenues than originally estimated by the board and administration when developing their preliminary budget in March. Administrators now estimate the budget will total $26.6 million. District administrators are recommending specific cuts based on previous discussions with the board and with administrators from individual schools.
Original Story: “School board to review $932,000 in budget cuts,” by Leslie Murray. 6/10/1985.
This week in 1995, Alaska lawmakers are ending their years-long practice of carrying over multimillion-dollar surpluses in their own budget from one year to the next.
The governor’s office also is getting rid of some of its surplus funds, although some is being held back to cover emergencies.
Opponents of carry-over funding say it allows the Legislature and governor’s office an extra margin of financial comfort not enjoyed by other state agencies.
Dropping the practices of carrying leftover funds from year to year is helping the Legislature and Gov. Tony Knowles reduce their budgets 17 to 28 percent for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
The Legislature and the governor’s office are about the only sections of the state government that have been allowed to carry funds forward at the end of the budget year. Other state officers, from troopers to health inspectors, must empty their accounts June 30 unless lawmakers reallocate leftover funds.
By the end of last June, the Legislature had accrued about $9 million in unspent cash, the equivalent of about a third of its annual budget.
Original Story: “Lawmakers put end to roll-over fund policy,” by Ed Schoenfeld. 6/11/1995.
This week in 2005, the state Department of Public Safety is taking offers to buy a jet or a newer turboprop airplane for use by the department and Gov. Frank Murkowski, despite opposition by some lawmakers and residents who contend a jet is simply a luxury item for the governor. The department on Wednesday released a request for proposals. The notice says the state intends to award a contract by July 19. Commissioner Bill Tandeske said Thursday the state is primarily interested in a jet, although officials also will look at proposals for a King Air 350 turboprop, which can fly higher and faster than the King Airs the department now has.
“I think it’s been clear that we’re interested in the performance a jet can get us,” he said.
Murkowski last year was denied a request to buy a jet with federal Homeland Security money. Earlier this year, a $14 million line item to lease a jet was removed from the budget by the Legislature.
Both attempts met with reproaches by lawmakers and protest letters to editors in newspapers across the state, but that did little to dissuade Murkowski. In an April news conference, the governor again said he intended to acquire the jet.
“The governor has been pretty clear that this is the right decision,” spokeswoman Becky Hultberg said Thursday.
Original Story: “State moves ahead on buying jet to be used by Murkowski,” by Matt Volz. 6/10/2005.
• Contact Natalie Buttner at natalie.buttner@juneauempire.com.
