HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES2023-043 Increase Base Student Allocation CITY OF SEWARD,Sponsored by: Council Member Barnwell
RESOLUTION 2023-043
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD,
ALASKA, REQUESTING THE STATE OF ALASKA LEGISLATORS
MAKE A MEANINGFUL INCREASE TO THE BASE STUDENT
ALLOCATION (BSA) FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WHEREAS, the State of Alaska is constitutionally obligated to establish and maintain a
system of public schools; and
WHEREAS, under AS 29.35.160, the Kenai Peninsula Borough (KPB) is required to
constitute a borough school district and to establish, maintain, and operate a system of public
schools on an areawide basis; and
WHEREAS, AS 14.17.470 currently states that the Base Student Allocation (BSA)
provided by the state is $5,960; and
WHEREAS, at current funding levels, the state will only provide 59.5% of Fiscal Year
2024 (FY24) Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) education funding, and local
government contributions will make up the majority of the remaining balance; and
WHEREAS, education is the single largest budgetary item for the borough; and
WHEREAS, the BSA amount per student has slowly degraded due to an upward
inflationary trend in the cost of student education; and
WHEREAS,requiring the KPB to continually increase local contributions in order to keep
pace with rising costs results in decreased spending on other essential programs; and
WHEREAS,the KPBSD is facing a$13.1 million budget deficit for FY24,resulting in an
increased class size and the elimination of programs important to our students and community
members; and
WHEREAS, the state has not made meaningful BSA increases since Fiscal Years 2015-
2017 totaling an additional amount of$250 per student; and
WHEREAS, Alaska State Senate Members have proposed Senate Bill 52 (SB52) which
would increase the BSA by $1,000 per student, and Alaska State House Members have proposed
House Bill 65 (HB65)which would increase the BSA by$1,250 per student; and
WHEREAS,on February 28,2023,the Legislative Finance Division Director stated to the
House Finance Committee that, "Today, the Base Student Allocation is the lowest it's been in the
last 20 years, adjusted for inflation."; and
CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2023-043
WHEREAS, on March 14, 2023, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved
Resolution 2023-027 to request that the State of Alaska make a meaningful increase to the Base
Student Allocation for public schools; and
WHEREAS, the Seward City Council joins the borough assembly in this request to the
state in the interest of providing students with the most opportunities for education possible.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEWARD,ALASKA that:
Section 1. The Seward City Council hereby requests that State of Alaska legislators make
a meaningful increase to the Base Student Allocation(BSA)for Alaskan students in order to bridge
the fiscal gap created by a lack of inflationary increases imposed on the Base Student Allocation
over the past several years.
Section 2.Copies of this resolution will be sent to Alaska Governor Dunleavy,all members
of the legislative delegation for the Kenai Peninsula Borough, the Kenai Peninsula Borough
Mayor, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, the Alaska Education Committees in both
the Senate and House, and other interested parties.
Section 3.This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward,Alaska,this 10th
day of April, 2023.
THE CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA
S„ikincria te_
Sue McClure, Mayor
AYES: Osenga, Calhoon, Wells, Barnwell, DeMoss, Finch, McClure
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
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City Council Agenda Statement
Meeting Date: April 10, 2023
To: City Council
From: Robert Barnwell, City Council Member
Subject: Resolution 2023-043: Requesting the State of Alaska Legislators Make a
Meaningful Increase to the Base Student Allocation (BSA) for Public Schools
Background and justification:
The council recognizes that our public schools are an essential component of our city. They must
have adequate state funding in order to continue delivering the quality we have come to expect. If
a substantial increase in funding does not occur catastrophic effects, including a reduction in staff,
and the closing of our only swimming pool are very real possibilities.
Comprehensive and Strategic Plan Consistency Information
This legislation is consistent with (citation listed):
Comprehensive Plan: 1.3.5 Educational Facilities
Strategic Plan:
Other:
Certification of Funds
Total amount of funds listed in this legislation: $ 0
This legislation (✓):
Creates revenue in the amount of: $
Creates expenditure in amount of: $
Creates a savings in the amount of: $
x Has no fiscal impact
Funds are (✓):
Budgeted Line item(s):
Not budgeted
x Not applicable
Fund Balance Information
Affected Fund (✓):
General SMIC Electric Wastewater
Boat Harbor Parking F1 Water Healthcare
Motor Pool Other
Note: amounts are unaudited
Fund Balance/Net position — unrestricted/unassigned $
Available Unrestricted Cash Balance: $
Finance Director Signature:
131
Attorney Review
RxYes Attorney Signature:
Not applicable Comments:
Administration Recommendation
xeApprove Res.
Other:
132