JUNEAU (AP) - Gov. Mike Dunleavy has delayed until Aug. 16 the start of the next special session of the Legislature, following a request by legislative leaders for more time to find a compromise on the state’s fiscal future.
The special session had been set to begin Monday.
Special sessions can last up to 30 days.
The letter requesting that the governor postpone the session was signed by Senate President Peter Micciche, House Speaker Louise Stutes, Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich and House Minority Leader Cathy Tilton.
The Republican and Democratic leaders said a delay would provide extra time “for fiscal plan items under consideration to be reviewed.”
Dunleavy in May announced plans for an Aug. 2 special session. It was supposed to build off a special session convened in May, during which the governor wanted lawmakers to work on the budget and address his proposal to restructure the state’s oil-wealth fund and put a formula for the annual Permanent Fund dividend into the state constitution.
But the budget consumed the special session that began in May and there were concerns among lawmakers about the financial assumptions underlying Dunleavy’s push for a Permanent Fund dividend about double the average of the past 10 years.
Many lawmakers also expressed doubt about taking up a $1.5 billion-a-year PFD proposal without resolving other pieces of a state fiscal plan, such as the unbalanced budget and the need for additional revenues to maintain public services.
The state has drawn on savings most of the past 30 years to pay for public services and the dividend. Much of the current fiscal debate centers on how much to withdraw from the Alaska Permanent Fund each year.
The House, in a deal to pass a budget in time for the start of the state fiscal year on July 1, approved creating a House-Senate working group to come up with fiscal plan recommendations.
The committee has not endorsed any proposals yet, though it is continuing to meet in an effort to find compromise and bring proposals to the full House and Senate at the next special session.
Dunleavy’s office said the Department of Revenue has asked to present its latest state revenue and spending projections to the work group before it finalizes any recommendations.
The original August special session agenda set by Dunleavy included his proposed constitutional amendments for the Permanent Fund, an annual state spending limit, and making it harder to adopt any new taxes. His agenda also included “measures to increase state revenues,” though he has not offered any specific proposals.
In the governor’s amended special session agenda, dated July 29, Dunleavy removed his proposed constitutional amendment that would have prohibited the Legislature from imposing any new taxes without public approval.
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