State budget tight, with several big items still to be considered

State senators heard last week that based on current revenue forecasts, legislators will struggle to balance the budget with several big-spending items still to be considered.

The nonpartisan Legislative Finance Division explained that items currently pending, like benefits for low-income seniors, funding needed to start upgrading the Railbelt’s electrical grid and a large increase in state money for public education, were not included in the governor’s proposed budget.

Other spending, such as Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s insistence on $55 million for teacher bonuses in return for not vetoing a much l...