Minority urges capital spending on deferred school maintenance, secures Fairbanks hatchery funding pending conference

Senator Kronk told reporters the minority perspective on the capital budget emphasizes following the established deferred‑maintenance list and prioritizing school maintenance projects in as fair a manner as possible. "The focus this year really has been on school maintenance... following the list that it's as fair as possible," she said.

Kronk said the capital budget was advancing: the House passed the operating budget and the Senate would read the capital budget across Monday with floor action expected Tuesday. She noted one item omitted from the House operating budget — funding that would have affected the Fairbanks hatchery — was preserved in the Senate through adoption of the governor’s request in the fish and game budget. "That funding is there... it will be up to the conference committee to accept or reject it," Kronk said.

Senator Kaufman added that with an influx of revenue from recent oil prices, directing windfall proceeds to deferred capital maintenance is preferable to expanding operating programs that could be difficult to sustain if revenues decline. "Deferred maintenance is a very reasonable thing to put on the list," Kaufman said, urging caution about adding ongoing operating commitments.