Anchorage Assembly Work Session: 2025-2026 Budget & Amendments (Nov 7, 2025)

The Anchorage Assembly convened for a work session to finalize the 2026 municipal budget and review a wide array of proposed amendments across operating and capital budgets. The session addressed technical streaming issues at the start, followed by a review of the Legislative Branch budget, which was largely flat aside from specific salary adjustments for the Ombudsman's office. The majority of the meeting was dedicated to discussing over 20 amendments regarding operational efficiencies, public outreach funding, and significant capital improvement shifts, particularly concerning the CASA process and ARTS A bond allocations.

Consent Calendar

• No specific routine consents were formally taken; the Assembly proceeded directly to budget briefing and amendment discussions.
• Technical issues regarding the YouTube stream and calendar links were noted and addressed administratively, but no formal consent items were voted on.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Elders/Community Members: A group of five to six elders testified at the Transportation Committee meeting (cited by Council members) to express strong support for expanding free bus ridership to seniors (65+).

Discussion Items

• Legislative Branch Budget:

  • The budget for the legislative branch (Assembly, Clerk, Ombudsman) was presented as relatively flat overall, with a 13% increase attributed to a salary raise and benefit additions for the Ombudsman.
  • Positions: Member Perez Verdillo and Member Baldwin Day expressed concern that the Assembly had not engaged in a comprehensive, internal budget discussion or strategic planning review comparable to executive departments, urging a more robust future process to understand budget drivers and service capacity. Chair responded that such discussions occur via strategic planning and budget/fiscal committees, but acknowledged the need for better visibility.

• Operational Budget Amendments (Speaker Positions):

  • Member Ballard: Supported the removal of $125,000 from the marijuana tax pilot projects to fund "Best Beginnings," characterizing it as an important early literacy program.
  • Members Girker, Myers, and McCormick: Proposed a series of cuts categorized as operational efficiencies, targeting funds for duplicative services and unfunded vacant positions.
    • Member Girker explicitly positioned these cuts as necessary to avoid hitting the tax cap, to reduce the size and scope of government, and to free up funds for the upcoming AMEA contract, asserting that non-essential travel, dues, and furniture refurbishment should be eliminated.
    • Speaker (Girker) expressed opposition to the Office of Equity and Justice (OEJ) as a separate department, arguing its functions are duplicative of HR and should be absorbed there.
    • Speaker (Girker) expressed position that eliminating the locally funded staff for the Equal Rights Commission is fiscally prudent given the existence of a state-level commission, though the charter mandate for the commission itself would remain.
    • Speaker (Girker) stated that cuts to vacant, funded, non-recruited positions should be prioritized as they do not impact service delivery.

• Wildland Fire Amendment:

  • Sponsors (Baldwin Day, McCormick, Perez Verdillo): Expressed strong support for operationalizing the wildland fire division within the fire department. They positioned this as a necessary necessity to protect against wildfire threats, arguing the city was "lucky" not to have seen a major event in the last 15 years and that the amendment leverages existing federal grants to avoid municipal burden.

• Comprehensive Plan Update:

  • Member Baldwin Day: Proposed $50,000 to contract out the planning process for a comprehensive plan update, aiming to complete it in under 18 months. They expressed support for this approach to overcome the inefficiencies of the current internal process and ensure efficient land use decisions.

• Free Bus Ridership:

  • Members Baldwin Day, Martinez, and others: Proposed $100,000 to expand free bus ridership to seniors (65+) by adding one extra day. They expressed full support for this expansion based on public feedback and potential infrastructure savings from reduced single-occupancy vehicles.

• Alcohol/Marijuana Tax Education:

  • Member Girker: Proposed moving $30,000 for alcohol and marijuana tax education to the Health Department. They expressed support for this shift to improve public accountability and communication.
  • Austin Quinn Davidson (ACE Fund): Expressed support for the communication work but suggested it could potentially be covered within existing administrative line items without a specific amendment amount.

• Fiscal Future Funding:

  • Member Girker: Proposed $30,000 to continue fiscal future discussions and public education on the budget, noting it helps bring more people (including those needing child care) into the civic conversation.

• Parks & Rec Labor Amendment:

  • Member Girker and Brawley: Proposed converting seasonal horticulture positions to full-time roles to improve recruitment and retention. They expressed support for this net-neutral change to reduce administrative churn and address workforce abuse.

• CASA (Community Area Safety Act) Amendments:

  • Member Ballard: Supported a zero-out of specific out-year CASA projects (road service areas) to force a review by a newly formed working group, stating this is a "process-specific" objection rather than an objection to the projects themselves.
  • Member Ballard (later): Proposed moving specific projects (Basher Trailhead, Lower Cabin Trail) to 2026 and delaying the Basher Road Upgrade to 2027 to prioritize existing work. They expressed support for delaying the CIP list to allow the collaborative group to define priorities.
  • Member Ballard: Proposed $300,000 for the Downtown Anchorage Wayfinding Project. They expressed support for continuing the project, noting it fills a gap in the current bond proposal.
  • Member Ballard (ARTS A): Proposed several ARTS A bond additions, including $5.1 million for Tasha Drive and $500,000 for Turnigan Street. They expressed support for these as high-priority district projects and recommended doubling pavement rehabilitation funds citywide to maintain infrastructure.
  • Member Ballard (Stormwater): Moved a stormwater project from 2027 to 2026, expressing support for addressing urgent flooding issues in a specific cul-de-sac.
  • Member Ballard (Chip Sealing): Proposed $1.2 million for purchasing chip sealing equipment. They expressed support for this as a cost-effective method to address deferred roadway maintenance, noting the municipality lacks the equipment but has the staff.

Key Outcomes

• No Voting Action Taken on Amendments: The session was designated for discussion and clarification. No amendments were voted on during the work session; they are to be repackaged and brought to the floor in future meetings.
• Process Directives:
  • Chairman directed staff (Mr. Farina) to regroup amendments by topic (operating budget, tax education, CIP) while preserving amendment numbers.
  • Council members are encouraged to review and send additional amendments to staff for consolidation into an omnibus file.
  • Staff to provide a deeper historical analysis of the Legislative Branch budget and the specific positions in the "vacant, non-recruited" list upon request.
  • Staff to verify the charter mandate requirements for the Equal Rights Commission and provide a legal analysis before any vote occurs.
  • Chair to coordinate with OMB regarding caps and guidance on the ARTS A bond allocations.
• Deferred Topics: The status of the I Street Stairs removal/replacement project was flagged for future administrative review but not resolved.
• Budget Context: It was confirmed that the Wildland Fire amendment would be budget-neutral regarding the tax cap due to existing grant funding through 2027.