Governor Dunleavy unveils Fiscal Year 2023 budget proposal

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - At a press conference on Wednesday, December 15, Governor Mike Dunleavy outlined his priorities for the Fiscal Year 2023 budget.

“Even though this budget is smaller than when the term began, we are targeting spending to core areas of government in FY23,” Dunleavy said.

In the area of public safety, the governor hopes to increase the number of Village Public Safety Officers, Alaska State Troopers and Wildlife Troopers in the state. According to Dunleavy, the proposed budget “funds body cameras and provides supplemental funding for the court system to resume jury trials and go back to a five-day work week. There’s also $6.3 million for domestic violence and sexual assault prevention programs.”

The governor is also calling for $10 million toward the effort to defend what he views as Alaska’s rights as a state. “We must challenge this [Biden] administration’s efforts to stop resource development in places like ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) and Southeast Alaska.”

Dunleavy also discussed his plan, unveiled earlier this year, to stabilize the formula for the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD).

His budget includes funds to supplement this year’s PFD. “Our supplemental budget request will include $795 million to pay the balance of the 2021 PFD under this plan, or about $1,250 per person. We’re also requesting $1.7 billion for the 2023 Fiscal Year to pay out the 2022 PFD of approximately $2,564 per eligible Alaskan.”

Dunleavy’s plan also includes funding to the University of Alaska for programs such as unmanned aircraft, rare earth research and heavy oil extraction.

More information about the budget can be found here.

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