Posts Tagged ‘ak watchdog’

AKWatchdog: Budget forums target police department for cuts

After the Municipality of Anchorage hosted a series of public forums on the upcoming FY 2012 budget, a report on the discussions reveals many taxpayers would like to see budget cuts within the police department. With an estimated city budget shortfall of up to $18 million, the forums gave Anchorage residents...
September 15th, 2010 | Policy | Read More

Alaska Watchdog:Boroughs to end financial disclosure laws

An often overlooked provision in Alaska statute allows cities to exempt themselves from campaign financial disclosure requirements, and several Alaskan boroughs have made the move to include the exemptions on the upcoming October ballots. On Tuesday night, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly introduced an ordinance...
August 5th, 2010 | Policy, Transparency | Read More

State rolls millions in to General Fund

(AlaskaWatchdog.org) After several years of internal discussion and organization, the Legislative Finance Division has completed a project that adds more than $750 million into the General Fund in an effort to simplify State finances. Legislative Fiscal Analyst David Teal said the Budget Clarification...
July 16th, 2010 | Fiscal Policy, Policy, Transparency | Read More

State tests new parole system

(AlaskaWatchdog.org) The Department of Corrections is partnering with the Anchorage Police Department to test drive a new program intended to deal with probation violations more quickly and effectively. Commissioner Joe Schmidt said the program, Probation Accountability with Certain Enforcement, would...
July 15th, 2010 | Recent News | Read More

Troopers call for evidence database upgrade

(AlaskaWatchdog.org) After struggling with more than a few gaps in their evidence database, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers are on the brink of updating a system that has been in place since 1984. Director Col. Gary Folger said the current system does not sort or categorize items in any kind of searchable...
July 13th, 2010 | Accountability | Read More

Charter schools face uncertain future

(AlaskaWatchdog.org) Facing rising costs and limited room for expansion, Alaska charter schools may soon be a thing of the past. Mary Meade-Olberding, charter school supervisor for the Anchorage School District, said charter schools face a number of district-imposed restrictions that make expansion extremely...
July 13th, 2010 | Education | Read More

Rates adjusted to address unfunded PERS/TRS gap

Kirsten Adams Friday, June 18 After two full days of presentations, discussions and review, the Alaska Retirement Management Board approved pension contribution rates today for fiscal year 2012 in an effort to reduce the multi-billion dollar unfunded liability. The rates are based on 2009 valuations...
June 27th, 2010 | Fiscal Policy, Recent News | Read More

State sees bonds as investment capital to close unfunded pension gap

By Kirsten Adams June 14, 2010 Selling up to $5 billion in bonds could either place Alaska further in the red or, as State officials hope, successfully decrease the multi-billion dollar pension unfunded liability. Deputy Commissioner of Revenue Jerry Burnett said the State would invest the bond proceeds...
June 14th, 2010 | Recent News | Read More

Design problems plague Port of Anchorage expansion

By Kirsten Adams June 7, 2010 Despite an additional appropriation in the recently approved capital budget, reports of failed designs continue to plague the more than $750 million Port of Anchorage expansion project.  The project would use an open cell sheet pile design to add 130 acres of dock space...
June 7th, 2010 | Recent News | Read More

Alaska Watchdog: Federal funding rules foil smart budget cuts

By Kirsten Adams May 29, 2010 As long as Alaska receives Federal funding for education and transportation, “maintenance of effort” (MOE) stipulations would prevent the State from making budget cuts in those areas. MOE stipulations are rules attached to Federal funding intended to force a State to...
May 29th, 2010 | Recent News | Read More

Alaska Watchdog: State considers cost of medicaid expansion

By Kirsten Adams May 28, 2010 Even though the federal government reimburses more than 65 percent of Alaska’s medicaid expenses annually, officials project the State will spend more than half a billion dollars on the government welfare program in 2011.  The 2011 operating budget, approved by the House...
May 28th, 2010 | Health Care | Read More

ASD would pay $7.5mil for teachers who opt out of benefits

By Kirsten Adams   May 19, 2010 A tentative contract between the Anchorage School District and the local teacher’s union mandates the district make monthly insurance contributions for every teacher, regardless of whether they are covered by union insurance. Jim Lepley, President of the Anchorage...
May 19th, 2010 | Recent News | Read More

IBEW contracts edge out local businesses

By Kirsten Adams  May 18, 2010 Nearly two years after the Anchorage Assembly approved more than $130 million in union contracts, local businesses claim provisions in the contracts are wasting city money and monopolizing business. The contract between the Municipality of Anchorage and the International...
May 18th, 2010 | Issues | Read More

Alaska Watchdog: State investigating inclusion of non-government employees in PERS

By Kirsten Adams May 17, 2010 Despite more than $16 billion in liabilities, the Public Employees Retirement System funds the pensions of several non-government employees as well. Director of Retirement and Benefits Pat Shier said his division, along with the Attorney General’s office, has been investigating...
May 17th, 2010 | Accountability | Read More

Alaska Watchdog: Rising salaries contribute to growth of PERS/TRS unfunded liability

By Kirsten Adams A recently released evaluation of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) revealed more than $16 billion in unfunded liabilities, a number that has more than doubled since 2001. The evaluation, conducted by Buck Consultants and presented to the Alaska Retirement Management Board...
May 17th, 2010 | Fiscal Policy, Health Care | Read More

Economy and rising health care costs raises unfunded liability of state pension

By Kirsten Adams After an independent review of Alaska’s public retirement systems revealed more than $10 billion in unfunded liabilities, state officials said the steady annual increases in were caused by a combination of unhealthy markets and rising health care costs. Jack Kreinheder, Senior Analyst...
May 15th, 2010 | Recent News | Read More