State Relations

Legislative Priorities

Roadmap to Empower Alaska -- Priority Strategies

  • Facilities Maintenance and Modernization Plan
  • UAF reaching R1 research status by 2027
  • Achieving Cost-Efficient Operations
  • Improving Graduation and Retention
  • Systemwide Enrollment Plan
  • Empower Alaska Branding Plan

Operating Budget Request - $29.25 M 

  • Compensation increase (2.5%) - $14.7 M
  • Fixed operating cost increases - $8.5 M
  • Programs to support State and Arctic Leadership - $6 M

Deferred Maintenance and Modernization Strategy

  • Consistent annual state funding to the “University of Alaska Major Maintenance and Modernization Fund”
  • Modest revenue stream of $35 million funded annually through the language section of the state’s annual appropriation bills
  • Spending would be limited to projects on UA’s approved DM projects list

Capital Budget Request - $33 M

  • UAF Achieve Research 1 Status (top 4% nationally) $20M
  • UAA Health Workforce Diversity Expansion Project & Library Learning Commons $6M ($8M total)
  • UAS Mariculture Program Expansion $7M ($10M total)
  • A $60 million capital budget request for deferred maintenance is being pursued concurrently with the legislative strategy should that funding option not make it through committee

Economic Development: Research/Workforce Training 

  • UAF Drone Program $10M
  • UAF Alaska Railbelt Carbon Capture & Sequestration Project $2.2M ($11.1M total)

Revenue Assumptions

  • $927M total budget authority, $555M (60%) is from unrestricted sources$337M in state general funds and $218M unrestricted earned revenue
  • FY25 UA expects a net $4M increase in unrestricted earned revenue $3M in tuition and fee revenue as enrollment increases 
  • $1M in other unrestricted earned revenue, such as interest income, university receipts, and indirect cost recovery (generated from restricted funds) 

Technical Vocational Education Program Reauthorization

  • Funds high-demand career and technical training such as mining, oil & gas, health care, construction, and IT
  • Investment in workforce training programs is critical to meet Alaska’s employment projections

 

Other Key Legislative Priorities:

Alaska Education Tax Credit

The Education Tax Credit provides a significant public benefit for Alaska by incentivizing private companies to invest in education.