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Action necessary:
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and distribute this message to colleagues and friends.
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Send an e-mail to your lawmakers and ask for
an adequate increase in K-12 funding
($115 million in FY 08)
Calendar:
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May
09
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9:00 AM
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Senate State Affairs - SJR9 - Constitutional Amendments on
Benefits
IT’S
OVER
At 11:56 pm last night, with NEA-Alaska in the gallery, the
Alaska State House adjourned until January 15, 2008. The
Senate had adjourned minutes earlier. Let’s quickly touch
on the priority one issues of K-12 education funding and
Retirement matters.
K-12
EDUCATION FUNDING
K-12 education funding was increased over FY 07 levels by
about $112 million dollars. NEA-Alaska and our 13,000
members advocated all session for an overall increase of
$115 million. This was a good year for K-12 increases and
NEA-Alaska looks forward to working with the newly created
Legislative task force on Education. See link below
for SCR 11:
Senate Concurrent Resolution 11
SCR 11 establishes a Joint Education Funding Task Force.
This committee would have five members appointed by the
Senate and five from the House of Representatives. The
Governor would appoint one member. They would meet over the
summer and “submit a report of its findings and proposed
legislative changes to the Governor and the Legislature by
September 1, 2007…”
The components passed last night provide the following for
Alaska’s schools in FY 08:
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$77.5
million from TRS relief to bring down the employer
contribution rate to normal cost.
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$24
million for the second quarter of the ISER area cost
differential recommendation (the first quarter-$24 million
is in the governor’s budget).
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$10.5
million for the second installment of School Improvement
Grants (the first installment-$10.5 million is in the
governor’s budget).
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$112 million available for instruction over FY 07 levels.
RETIREMENT MATTERS
At 8:56 pm, with NEA-Alaska in the Senate gallery,
Senate Bill 183 (5/16/07) was introduced by Senator
Kim Elton (Juneau). SB 183 would return Alaska’s public
employees to a defined benefit plan. With the new data that
became available in late March it is obvious that the TRS
Defined contribution plan is more expensive than the TRS
Tier II defined benefit plan. The PERS DC plan is less
expensive than the PERS tier III DB plan but it is obvious
that to recruit and retain the best public employees Alaska
must return to a Defined Benefit plan that almost every
other state in the U.S. utilizes and enjoys. Look for more
in the May 24th report. Please send an e-mail to Sen. Elton
thanking him for his sponsorship and to your senator asking
them to join as a co-sponsor of SB 183. Look for more in
the may 24th final report.
FINAL THOUGHT
NEA-Alaska would like to thank all members for their
continued advocacy. As a member you are the best lobbyist.
As a constituent you need to constantly be building your
relationship with your elected official and letting them
know your personal stories. Stay in touch with your
lawmakers over the interim and continue your advocacy for
K-12 education. Take Care!
Bill Bjork, NEA-Alaska President
Lydia Garcia, NEA-Alaska Executive Director
John Alcantra, NEA-Alaska Govt Relations
A final legislative report on all issues will be published
on Thursday, May 24th. As always, If you know anyone who
wishes to receive the LCS/Legislative Update, please
send us an
e-mail with their home e-mail address if possible,
and we’ll add them to the growing list of K-12 education
advocates!
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