Senate finance subcommittee advances Department of Labor closeout budget to full committee
April 15, 2026 | 2026 Legislature Alaska, Alaska
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Senator Merrick called the Department of Labor and Workforce Development finance subcommittee to order at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and heard the subcommittee's closeout recommendations from staff member Carrie Crocker.
"The closeout budget is as follows," Crocker began, listing component funds including $25,501,600 in unrestricted general funds; $26,709,600 in designated general funds; $17,038,500 in other funds; and $98,480,200 in federal funds. Crocker also read a position summary for the department and described several budget adjustments.
Crocker said the closeout reflects a reduction (transcript reads "$5.5400000") from the FY26 management plan, an unrestricted general fund increase of $2,100,000 to address critical operational needs, and a one‑time $1,400,000 UGF increment to maintain workers' compensation operations. She also described new carry‑forward language for the workers' compensation account to permit unexpected or unobligated balances from annual service fees and civil penalties to be carried forward, which she said provides short‑term flexibility but does not replace the need for a long‑term solution.
The presentation identified a structural change moving State Training and Employment Program funding into the language section, totaling $6,000,000 across multiple components. Crocker characterized several other corrections as technical adjustments to technical and vocational education program fund sources intended to correct prior‑year fund source errors and align balances; she stated these items do not represent policy changes.
Following the presentation, Sen. Ray Jackson moved to adopt the subcommittee report on the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and to report the FY27 operating budget from subcommittee with individual recommendations and accompanying legislative financial reports to the full committee. With no objections raised, the subcommittee moved the department's budget to the full Senate Finance Committee by unanimous consent. The meeting was adjourned at 1:33 p.m.
The transcript presented component amounts and several line items, but the transcript's stated grand total was formatted ambiguously; the article lists component figures as read in the meeting and reports the explicit changes and direction the subcommittee took.
"The closeout budget is as follows," Crocker began, listing component funds including $25,501,600 in unrestricted general funds; $26,709,600 in designated general funds; $17,038,500 in other funds; and $98,480,200 in federal funds. Crocker also read a position summary for the department and described several budget adjustments.
Crocker said the closeout reflects a reduction (transcript reads "$5.5400000") from the FY26 management plan, an unrestricted general fund increase of $2,100,000 to address critical operational needs, and a one‑time $1,400,000 UGF increment to maintain workers' compensation operations. She also described new carry‑forward language for the workers' compensation account to permit unexpected or unobligated balances from annual service fees and civil penalties to be carried forward, which she said provides short‑term flexibility but does not replace the need for a long‑term solution.
The presentation identified a structural change moving State Training and Employment Program funding into the language section, totaling $6,000,000 across multiple components. Crocker characterized several other corrections as technical adjustments to technical and vocational education program fund sources intended to correct prior‑year fund source errors and align balances; she stated these items do not represent policy changes.
Following the presentation, Sen. Ray Jackson moved to adopt the subcommittee report on the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and to report the FY27 operating budget from subcommittee with individual recommendations and accompanying legislative financial reports to the full committee. With no objections raised, the subcommittee moved the department's budget to the full Senate Finance Committee by unanimous consent. The meeting was adjourned at 1:33 p.m.
The transcript presented component amounts and several line items, but the transcript's stated grand total was formatted ambiguously; the article lists component figures as read in the meeting and reports the explicit changes and direction the subcommittee took.
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