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Senate passes SB 171: Education Funding

On Friday, the Senate passed SB 171 on an 18-2 vote, with Senators John Coghill (North Pole) and Fred Dyson (Eagle River) voting no. The bill now goes to the House.

SB 171 would raise the Base Student Allocation (BSA) by $125 in Fiscal Year 13 (beginning July 1, 2012).  Over the next two years it would raise the BSA an Additional $130 in FY 14 and $135 in FY 15.  Each $100 increase in the BSA costs the state about $25 million.  The following increase to K-12 education would occur if SB 171 passes the legislature:

FY 13 = BSA from $5,680 to $5,805 = $30.6 million increase

FY 14 = BSA from $5,805 to $5,935 = $31.8 million increase

FY 15 = BSA from $5,935 to $6,070 = $33.1 million increase

Revenue surplus for FY 12 is estimated at $1.8 billion.  For FY 13 the revenue surplus is estimated at $1.9 billion.  SB 171 provides a 2% increase, which does not keep pace with inflation, which is estimated at about 3.2%.

Please contact your Senator and thank him/her for voting to increase education funding. 

To find your State Senator visit: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/vi_eo_state_dist.php.

Press Release 

NEA-Alaska President Barb Angaiak thanks Senators for Increasing Education Funding