BUDGET

Unalaska City Council members approved several major spending items at their Tuesday meeting, but warned that the city is facing long-term budget challenges. The City Council unanimously approved school funding, community support grants and a capital plan with more than $20 million worth of projects.

At its regular meeting Tuesday night, the Unalaska school board approved a proposed FY27 budget. It includes flat funding from the state, but a slightly larger ask of the city, which almost always grants the district its full request.

The Unalaska City School District has approved its budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, and is asking the city for about $6.14 million. The school board unanimously approved the budget draft at its meeting earlier this month. The proposal has gone through various revisions and discussions, including a town hall and committee meetings. Now, it will head to City Hall where council members will decide how much funding they can spare for the island’s schools.

At least a dozen teachers, staff and school board members showed up for a town hall hosted by the Unalaska City School District on March 6 to discuss an impending $1.2 million budget shortfall for the next fiscal year.

It’s not unheard of for Alaska schools to build their budgets without knowing for sure how much the state will provide. In recent years, that contribution hasn’t been much, especially when compared to the growing rates of inflation. But many school districts across the state are facing deficits this year, forcing them to make hard decisions. The Unalaska City School District is no exception.

The Unalaska City School District is set to get an extra chunk of money from the state this year.According to Superintendent Kim Hanisch, the district expects over $500,000 more in state funds than they originally planned. That comes after Gov. Mike Dunleavy recently chose not to veto a one-time boost for Alaska schools.

The Unalaska City Council approved all funding requests from local nonprofits at a city council meeting April 23.

The City of Unalaska has a balanced budget for the 2024 fiscal year. On Tuesday, city councilors voted 5-0 to adopt the roughly $35 million general fund spending plan.

The Unalaska City Council has approved the Qawalangin Tribe’s full funding request for its annual summer culture camp.

Unalaska’s schools and nonprofits will receive the city’s full financial support in fiscal year 2024. On Tuesday, the City Council voted 4-0 to grant the Unalaska City School District’s nearly $5.5 million funding request, along with fully funding seven organizations through the Community Support grant program.