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Record of Proceedings

ACE Fund Board Meeting – July 21, 2026: Budget Scenarios and Strategic Plan Update

Assembly & Committee Meetings — Tuesday, July 21, 2026
BodyAnchorage, Alaska
SessionAssembly & Committee Meetings
DateTuesday, July 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Board meeting.

0:03

We're gonna go ahead and start with agenda with roll call.

0:07

Trevor Storrs.

0:09

Here Jessica Simonson.

0:16

Brian Wynn Collier.

0:20

Kevin Barry.

0:22

Here.

0:29

Georgina Broke.

0:33

Mildred Parker here.

0:37

Jessine that's it.

0:38

Let me know if she would be absent today.

0:41

Chuck Shaka.

0:43

Okay.

0:45

Okay.

0:47

Fantastic.

0:47

Well, we do have a quorum, so we will move forward.

0:51

Uh hopefully you all see the agenda.

0:56

And our first thing on the agenda is actually finalizing the agenda.

1:00

Was there any changes anybody wanted to recommend?

1:08

Hearing none, we'll uh move it forward.

1:11

And the first thing is approval of our previous minutes.

1:15

Uh do I hear a motion?

1:22

Jessica, I can make a motion.

1:24

Uh thank you, Jessica.

1:26

And let's for the record, uh, vice chair has joined us.

1:31

Also, thank you, Khalil.

1:34

Any discussion.

1:39

Hearing none, uh we'll put it to a vote.

1:43

Anyone object?

1:48

Hearing no objections, passes unanimous.

1:53

All right, let's get into the meat of the agenda.

1:56

Let's talk about the 27 budget.

2:01

So thank you again to everybody for a great conversation last month and going through and using the polling mechanism and starting to figure out uh what uh the potential is for the budget.

2:14

One of the things uh I just want to share is kind of a little bit of the forethinking and what our uh plan will be related to it.

2:24

And we kind of discussed this last meeting, um, but uh giving a little more detail is we have not heard from the mayor's office what the plan is with uh the uh dollars that have been coming into or not coming into but being utilized for ASD and best beginnings that were at one time covered by the alcohol tax.

2:46

We do know that the mayor has heard us, we've had a great conversation, and again, thank you to them and to you all for that participation.

2:53

And uh through some conversations, they are looking at what does that look like and are they able to find other funding?

3:00

So, what we wanted to do is be proactive.

3:04

So we will be drafting a letter, and today we're gonna go through two scenarios.

3:09

Uh, one is ASD and best beginnings remains within our budget and what that looks like, and how does that play into the overall look?

3:21

But the budget we're gonna recommend is with ASD and best beginnings out, and we'll be looking at what that budget looks like as well.

3:30

And we'll share uh from the information that you all provided and what we're recommending or with draft, or we may have some questions for you all.

3:39

So Christina will be drafting a letter, she actually already has.

3:42

I'll be going through it.

3:43

We'll be recommending that the ASD and best beginnings return to either alcohol tax or additional money.

3:51

Uh, and again, based off of what the purpose of this fund was created, wasn't to backfill, but to add and by keeping them in the budget, uh, now that we do not really have any rollover dollars, uh, is really backfill.

4:07

Uh however, we do recognize that we can make a recommendation.

4:11

It is not our final uh we don't make the final decision what goes in that budget, that is the mayor, and then the mayor puts it for the uh assembly and they make final approvals.

4:21

So we will then also hopefully save some time and energy and going well.

4:26

If this can't happen, this is what we recommend and outlining what the impact of keeping ASD and best beginnings is in the budget and what we recommend related to that.

4:36

Um, so we don't have to then try to come back or have an emergency meeting that we've got those scenarios.

4:42

Doesn't mean either one uh still may not work out.

4:45

We may still need to maybe have a conversation with the mayor or the mayor might have a conversation with us and we will make recommendations, but hopefully uh we're able to provide uh a clear path forward.

5:00

And then once the mayor's budget is released and we're aware of it, we then as a board will also decide what our steps forward and do we do some advocacy?

5:08

And again, the mayor does recognize that we do have independency and what that looks like.

5:15

And do we or don't we utilize that independence and having conversations?

5:20

We will be having conversations with assembly members, just again talking about the budget.

5:26

And you all got an email from Christina on that, and also just bringing them further up to speed on the great work this committee or this board has been doing and talking about the impact and that larger view.

5:39

And again, building that relationship.

5:41

So when the assembly is either looking at the budget and also may have ideas or any pet projects or desires that they actually see from a larger scale, uh, the thought process that this board has gone through, the expertise that's on this board and why we're making things recommended, and how any change that they may make, what are those impacts and what does that look like for the larger, the larger picture and the the future of the industry?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Equity Analysis█████████████████████████████████████████████61%
Youth Programs████████11%
Meeting Procedures███████10%
Public Engagement█████7%
Data Management████5%
Strategic Planning█2%
Mental Health Awareness█2%
Procedural█1%
Child Care Worker Subsidy█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Anchorage ACE Fund Board Meeting – July 21, 2026

The Anchorage ACE (Alcohol and Cannabis for Early Childhood Education) Fund Board met on July 21, 2026, to discuss the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, review the strategic plan progress, and address meeting logistics. The board examined two budget scenarios – one including funding for Anchorage School District (ASD) and Best Beginnings, and one excluding them – and heard public testimony strongly advocating for operational grants over pilot and capital projects. Straw polls guided draft budget decisions, with final approval scheduled for August 19, 2026.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of previous meeting minutes: passed unanimously with no objections.
  • Finalization of the agenda: no changes were proposed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Laura (Anchorage Montessori School): Expressed support for operational grants, noting that capital funds reach only a few providers while operational grants distribute more equitably. Also noted challenges with the child care worker subsidy timeline.
  • Amy Collins (Executive Director, Best Beginnings): Thanked the board and clarified that the alcohol tax fund was intended to support early literacy programs. Urged the board to keep early literacy in the budget, emphasizing that home-based programs are part of the early education system.
  • Vicky Long Nether (Co-executive Director, Alaska Center Education Fund / Trailside Discovery Camp): Strongly advocated for prioritizing operational grants, stating they provide the most flexible and equitable support to keep programs running and families affordable. Warned against shifting to capital projects.
  • Melanie Hooper (President & CEO, Campfire Alaska): Supported operational grants as the most important funding source and urged both budget scenarios to keep operating grants as the largest line item. Noted that state operating grants are supplemental, not replacements.
  • Nate (President & CEO, YMCA of Alaska): Echoed previous comments, emphasizing that operational grants are sustainability grants that prevent closures. Offered to share data and testimonials.
  • Gustavo Bilgueta (on behalf of his wife, a child care administrator): Expressed gratitude for municipal support and stressed that without funding, sustaining child care is impossible in the long term.
  • Cindy (Discovery Camp Director): Shared personal experience as a single mother and provider, emphasizing that operational funds help maintain staffing and provide scholarships. Noted increased behavioral health needs and declining enrollment.

Discussion Items

  • FY27 Budget Scenarios: The board discussed two scenarios:
    • Scenario A (with ASD and Best Beginnings): The draft included full funding for ASD ($1M for six months to finish the year) and 50% for Best Beginnings ($75k), plus child care worker subsidy ($1.5M), admin (9%), and funds for operational grants and pilot/capital. The board was over budget and debated the split between operational and pilot/capital.
    • Scenario B (without ASD and Best Beginnings): This freed up approximately $2.98M. The board considered a 50-50 split, then adjusted to $2M operational and $1M pilot/capital based on a suggestion to approximate previous proportions.
    • Straw polls showed divided opinions. The board agreed to set ASD at 75% funding in Scenario B (reducing from $1M to $750k) and to use a 50-50 split for operational and pilot/capital in Scenario A. Final decisions will be made in August after public comment.
  • Strategic Plan Update: Christina presented Quarter 2 progress, noting that the plan is shifting operations from reactive to intentional investments. Key accomplishments include budget development, data collection, and partnerships. Upcoming focus: community assessment, program evaluation, and refined budget recommendations. Board members requested more data on program effectiveness, provider demographics, and barriers to accessing funds.
  • Meeting Logistics: The board discussed switching to fully Zoom meetings versus maintaining hybrid. Most members prefer in-person but value the Zoom option. They agreed to draft group agreements to encourage in-person attendance when possible, with Zoom for exceptions. A retreat may be scheduled.
  • August Meeting Date: The regular meeting on August 19, 2026, conflicts with the first day of school. The board agreed to shift the time from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM to accommodate members with school drop-off responsibilities.

Key Outcomes

  • Draft Budgets for Public Comment: The board approved draft budgets for both scenarios (with and without ASD/Best Beginnings) to be released for public comment with specific questions about operational vs. pilot/capital preferences. Feedback will inform the final vote in August.
  • Letter to Mayor: Staff will draft a letter reiterating the board's recommendation that ASD and Best Beginnings be funded outside the ACE fund (e.g., alcohol tax or general funds) and advocating for broad grant programs rather than earmarks.
  • Strategic Plan Priorities: The board emphasized collecting and analyzing data on the child care landscape, program effectiveness, and provider needs. Christina will refine the plan accordingly.
  • Next Meeting: August 19, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (hybrid). Formal vote on the FY27 budget and adoption of meeting group agreements.

Meeting Transcript

Board meeting. We're gonna go ahead and start with agenda with roll call. Trevor Storrs. Here Jessica Simonson. Brian Wynn Collier. Kevin Barry. Here. Georgina Broke. Mildred Parker here. Jessine that's it. Let me know if she would be absent today. Chuck Shaka. Okay. Okay. Fantastic. Well, we do have a quorum, so we will move forward. Uh hopefully you all see the agenda. And our first thing on the agenda is actually finalizing the agenda. Was there any changes anybody wanted to recommend? Hearing none, we'll uh move it forward. And the first thing is approval of our previous minutes. Uh do I hear a motion? Jessica, I can make a motion. Uh thank you, Jessica. And let's for the record, uh, vice chair has joined us. Also, thank you, Khalil. Any discussion. Hearing none, uh we'll put it to a vote. Anyone object? Hearing no objections, passes unanimous. All right, let's get into the meat of the agenda. Let's talk about the 27 budget. So thank you again to everybody for a great conversation last month and going through and using the polling mechanism and starting to figure out uh what uh the potential is for the budget. One of the things uh I just want to share is kind of a little bit of the forethinking and what our uh plan will be related to it. And we kind of discussed this last meeting, um, but uh giving a little more detail is we have not heard from the mayor's office what the plan is with uh the uh dollars that have been coming into or not coming into but being utilized for ASD and best beginnings that were at one time covered by the alcohol tax. We do know that the mayor has heard us, we've had a great conversation, and again, thank you to them and to you all for that participation. And uh through some conversations, they are looking at what does that look like and are they able to find other funding? So, what we wanted to do is be proactive. So we will be drafting a letter, and today we're gonna go through two scenarios. Uh, one is ASD and best beginnings remains within our budget and what that looks like, and how does that play into the overall look? But the budget we're gonna recommend is with ASD and best beginnings out, and we'll be looking at what that budget looks like as well. And we'll share uh from the information that you all provided and what we're recommending or with draft, or we may have some questions for you all. So Christina will be drafting a letter, she actually already has. I'll be going through it. We'll be recommending that the ASD and best beginnings return to either alcohol tax or additional money. Uh, and again, based off of what the purpose of this fund was created, wasn't to backfill, but to add and by keeping them in the budget, uh, now that we do not really have any rollover dollars, uh, is really backfill. Uh however, we do recognize that we can make a recommendation. It is not our final uh we don't make the final decision what goes in that budget, that is the mayor, and then the mayor puts it for the uh assembly and they make final approvals. So we will then also hopefully save some time and energy and going well. If this can't happen, this is what we recommend and outlining what the impact of keeping ASD and best beginnings is in the budget and what we recommend related to that.

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