Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce addressed local concerns toward school funding needs at Tuesday nights KPB assembly meeting. Mayor Pierce cautioned communities to prioritize needs in light of Governor Dunleavy’s proposed state budget.
Borough Mayor Pierce: “Obviously it’s a proposal, at this point, but many of the proposals that are on the table I think will actually come to fruition”
One of the larger proposals in the state budget affecting the borough is a $20 million cut to school funding.
Mayor Pierce: “If we in fact hit this 20 million dollar mark. How can we fund to the cap, fully fund the college, fully fund the community supports that are out there, the EDD, the small business development, how can we not have lay offs on the borough side, as well as have some tax? We’re gonna have some taxation, but you can’t tax your way all the way out of this…you’re gonna have to close some schools, you’re gonna have to close some swimming pools. We’re not going to have the same level of service that we’ve had historically.”
According to Mayor Pierce, prior assemblies have passed a floor in the fund balance at $14 million.
Mayor Pierce: “Here’s your range. You’ve got $7 million to play with, you’re spending $5.3 (million). You’ve got a $1.7 million margin to play with. That’s if, only if, the oil and gas tax provisions that the governor is going after do not happen.”
