Wilken Decries Late Release of Education Funding Plan
SB 178 introduced with four days left in session

Juneau - Sen. Gary Wilken, R-Fairbanks, issued the following statement regarding the introduction today of Senate Bill 178, which makes fundamental changes to Alaska’s public K-12 education funding.

“I am appalled that a complicated adjustment to the State’s funding of public education, our single largest budget expenditure, has been rolled out on a Saturday night, with one committee of referral and four days left before the end of session. This proposal makes sweeping changes to the amount we spend per student, the amount of the local tax contribution, and the services we provide our intensive needs students.

“If the formula foundation needs to be adjusted, bring it out from behind closed doors, adjust it in public, and with respect for the process. At a time when this building should be ultra sensitive to public perception and conducting an open, public process, it is outrageous to me that Senate leadership has chosen to adjust the K-12 formula behind closed doors and without public input.

“As introduced today, this proposal either ignores or grossly under funds those intensive needs students who are most in need of state assistance, and increases property taxes between $80 million and $90 million in Alaska’s communities.”

SB 178 was introduced by the Senate Finance Committee.

Sound actualities can be downloaded from the following links:
http://www.aksenateminority.com/media/25/wilken2007051201a.mp3
http://www.aksenateminority.com/media/25/wilken2007051202a.mp3