Senator Wilken Calls for Capital Budget Reform – Presents Roadmap for Change

Juneau – Sen. Gary Wilken, R-Fairbanks, in a letter to the House and Senate Finance Committee Co-chairs, today formally requested the Finance Committees initiate three key changes to the procedure normally used to develop and pass the State’s capital budget.

“Last year the capital budget process broke down and resulted in the Governor using her veto power, leaving a blemish on the legislature, the administration, and our capital budget process.” Wilken explained. “We need a review of the current capital budget process and ultimately we need to revamp the way our State’s capital budget is built. The three changes to the process that I propose will help the legislature begin that journey.”

The three steps Wilken proposes are

1. establish clear spending limits, agreed upon by the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives and the Governor,
2. alternate introduction of the capital budget bill each year between the House and the Senate to create a check and balance between the two bodies,
3. reclassify public dollars that do not carry a “General Fund” label, yet in practice spend like general fund dollars in the budget process, and label those funds “Alaska Funds” so they are better identified and tracked when spent.

The three changes Wilken proposes would open the process for more public scrutiny and install needed checks and balances on the system.

Senator Wilken will explain his plan in more detail and make available copies of his letter to the House and Senate Finance Committee Co-chairs at the Republican Minority Caucus press availability today at 11:00 a.m. in the Capitol Building.