For Immediate Release: February 13, 2019

Co-Chairs of Senate Finance Comment on Governor’s Budget Proposal
JUNEAU – Today, the co-chairs of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) and Senator
Natasha von Imhof (R-Anchorage), commented on Governor Michael J. Dunleavy’s amended Fiscal Year 2020
budget proposal.
“The Senate Majority is committed to protecting the Permanent Fund and dividends for future generations of
Alaskans, passing a sustainable budget in both the short and long-term, increasing jobs and growing the
economy, and keeping Alaskans and their families safe,” said Sen. Stedman. “Now that we have the governor’s
proposal, we can get to work taking it apart and understanding the impacts.”
The proposed FY20 budget is substantially different than previous years’ budget proposals, as a significant
amount of the budget changes for FY20 are tied to the passage of the governor’s legislation package. It will
take time to fully analyze all the changes and the attached legislation. The Senate Finance Committee has
scheduled several days of public hearings to ensure that legislators and the public begin the process of
understanding the budget proposals.
Senate Finance Schedule:
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Feb. 14 - Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Donna Arduin will provide an initial highlevel comprehensive overview of the governor’s proposed budget and legislation package.
After the comprehensive overview and continuing for at least four days, OMB Director Arduin,
Administrative Services Directors and Commissioners will present departmental overviews. The
overviews will highlight the significant changes in programs and services from the current year and
explain the impacts to Alaskans served by each department.
Legislative Finance will then present their findings and analysis.
Finance subcommittees will “drill down” each department in the coming weeks in more detail before
making their budget recommendations to the full finance committee.

After legislators and the public see the impacts of the budget proposal and the associated legislation package,
there will be ample opportunities for public testimony and constituent feedback.
“The budget is only part of the picture – the Senate Finance Committee will be tracking and analyzing how the
budget and other proposed appropriations and constitutional changes interact to affect the health of our
state’s economy,” said Sen. von Imhof. “While it is too early to understand all the impacts today, we’re
committed to taking the time to fully analyze and thoroughly vet these proposals.”
For more information, contact Senate Majority Communications Director Daniel McDonald at (907) 465-4066.
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