BRADNERS' ALASKA LEGISLATIVE DIGEST

Governor hits ADF&G budget Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s vetoes to the state’s FY 2020 operating budget have resulted in a $997,000 cut to the state commercial fisheries management division and another $280,000 reduction of funds for special area management, according to an analysis by United Fishermen of Alaska. A 50 percent reduction in travel is also ordered, including in the commercial fisheries group. Fish-tax sharing okay, for now The governor left intact the 50 percent sharing of state fish tax revenue…

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Eni takes keys at Oooguruk Caelus Natural Resources will be out of Alaska, at least as a production operator, effective July 31, when it turns over the keys for the company’s small Oooguruk field, which is producing, to Eni Oil and Gas which has purchased Oooguruk. Eni now owns the nearby Nikaitchuq field. Caelus has also sold Nuna, a small nearby oil deposit, to ConocoPhillips, but the deal has not closed. A few employees of Caelus will remain for a…

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Start on port reconstruction in Anchorage is delayed A business group lobbying the Anchorage assembly succeeded in getting the city to hold off on letting a contract for first phase of reconstruction at aging port facilities. The matter will be considered again at the next assembly meeting. Officials have an attractive bid in hand for the project to do the steel infrastructure for the port’s fuel and cement terminal, part of the overall reconstruction. Concerns were expressed over costs by…

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As the political wrangling over the state budget continues in the state Capitol there is particular concern for the University of Alaska following the governor’s veto of $131 million in state funds, or 41 percent of its budget. Funding for the university is still an issue as the Legislature’s special session continues, and some of the money may be restored. However, UA officials are already concerned about loss of key faculty and diminished enrollment. Given the timing, however, university officials…

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Strike halts ferry system State ferry system workers went on strike over a breakdown in contract negotiations with the state, shutting down sailings at the peak of the summer tourist and seafood seasons. Many seafood processors in coastal communities depend on the state ferries to send shipments of chilled fish. While cruise ships handle the bulk of summer tourists many independent travelers depend on the ferries, as do residents of coastal communities. The Inland Boatman’s Union of the Pacific represents…

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Governor hits Ketchikan dock Among Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s vetoes is $7.5 million in state funds to help pay for a moorage facility in Ketchikan for federal ocean research vessels. The money was intended to repair Ketchikan facilities to accommodate the Fairweather, a NOAA research ship. Without the facilities the U.S. Coast Guard is likely to “homeport” the vessel elsewhere. City seeks partners on dock The City of Ketchikan is meanwhile moving forward with a solicitation for potential private partners in…

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Utilities drop unified grid deal Six utilities along the state’s “railbelt” electric grid – the system from Homer and Seward north to Fairbanks – failed to reach final agreement on a unified grid management system and have withdrawn an application to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to establish one. A jointly-owned transmission company was proposed as a way for utilities to finance upgrades to the grid, which until now has benefited largely from state grants. With that no longer an…

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Wage and salary employment continued a slow but gradual gain in June with total jobs up 0.5 percent and those in the private sector up 0.7 percent over June, 2018. This is up from a gain of 0.3 percent of total jobs in May, compared with the same month of the previous year. In both months increasing petroleum and construction employment led the gain, with oil and gas up 5.3 percent in both May and June and construction up 3.9…

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Business, community leaders worry about job losses Business groups are increasingly concerned about the extended deadlock in Juneau as the Legislature and Gov. Mike Dunleavy grapple with the state budget, particularly the capital, or construction, budget that provides state matching money for almost a billion dollars of federal transportation funds. Economists are also warning that sharp budget reductions extracted through $400-million-plus in budget vetoes by the governor could result in about 4,000 jobs losses, ending a fragile recovery of the…

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