Alaska

Alaska

Budget Cycle
Annual

Governor Submits Budget
December 15

Fiscal Year Begins
July 1
 
Governor Signs Budget 
April/June

Budget Links

FY2026 (enacted)
FY2026 (proposed)
FY2025 (enacted)

FY2024 (enacted)
FY2023 (enacted)
FY2022 (enacted)
FY2021 (enacted)

Enacted Budget – Fiscal Year 2026

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy signed the state’s fiscal 2026 budget into law on June 12, while announcing a series of line-item vetoes. Total appropriations from all fund sources, including both operating and capital, are $14.73 billion, a 4.0 percent decrease from fiscal 2025. The budget provides for total operating expenditures (excluding capital) of $11.85 billion in fiscal 2026, a 3.4 percent decrease from fiscal 2025. The enacted budget includes $5.10 billion in unrestricted general funds spending (a 1.8 percent decrease), $912.9 million in designated general fund spending (a 5.1 percent decrease), $1.99 billion in other spending (a 2.1 percent increase), and $3.85 billion in federal spending (a 7.7 percent decrease). The budget also calls for capital appropriations of $2.88 billion, a 20.4 percent decrease from fiscal 2025. Additionally, the budget includes a Permanent Fund Dividend of $1,000 for each eligible Alaskan. Total state revenue is estimated at $15.68 billion in fiscal 2026 (a 6.1 percent decrease from fiscal 2025), while unrestricted revenue is estimated at $2.33 billion (a 9.4 percent decrease from fiscal 2025).

In signing the budget, the governor announced line-item vetoes reducing the operating budget by $122 million. The governor noted the vetoes represent the reality of Alaska’s current fiscal situation, in that revenue projections have declined since the spring and oil price outlooks continue to fluctuate, calling into question if expenditures can be supported. The governor added difficult decisions were made as a result of thorough evaluation to prudently invest in agency operations including prioritizing increased funding for education.


Proposed Budget - Fiscal Year 2026

On December 12, 2024, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy released his proposed budget for fiscal 2026. Total appropriations from all fund sources for fiscal 2026 are $14.19 billion, a 7.6 percent decrease from fiscal 2025. Unrestricted general fund (UGF) appropriations are recommended at $4.93 billion, a 4.5 percent decrease from fiscal 2025. Additionally, the budget calls for a Permanent Fund dividend appropriation of $2.58 billion, an increase from $996.3 million in fiscal 2025. The proposed budget forecasts total revenues of $15.25 billion, a 6.3 percent decline from fiscal 2025, and unrestricted general fund revenue of $2.40 billion, a 6.7 percent decline from fiscal 2025. The state’s available reserve balance is estimated at $2.88 billion. 

Proposed Budget Highlights 

The governor’s proposed budget for fiscal 2026 reflects his continued priorities of reducing crime, improving educational outcomes, passing a balanced budget, and bringing outside investment into Alaska. In addition, the budget continues the governor’s efforts to make Alaska the best place to raise a family and includes a full statutory Permanent Fund Dividend, which is estimated to be $3,892 per eligible Alaskan. Highlights of the budget proposal include:

Public Safety

  • Establishes a Talkeetna State Trooper Post to ensure timely law enforcement coverage
  • Hires three new Alaska State Trooper Investigators to investigate child crimes
  • Hires five additional Village Public Safety Officers
  • Purchases a new aircraft for emergency rural response across Alaska
  • Funds the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) Empowering Choice voucher program for victims of domestic violence
  • Deposits general funds into the Disaster Relief Fund for timely responses to disasters

Education

  • Total investments in K-12 education include fully funding K-12 Foundation Formula and pupil transportation at the statutory level
  • Continued supports for career and technical education, teacher apprenticeships, and teacher recruitment and retention initiatives
  • Supports electrician and plumber career pathway development for students
  • Funding to help the University of Alaska Fairbanks achieve R1 status for research universities

Energy Development

  • Advances the Alaska LNG Project Phase 1 to construction
  • Completion of engineering, design, permitting, and geological studies for the Bradley Lake Hydropower Dixon Diversion Project
  • Support for Alaska Energy Authority Renewable Energy Project Grants
  • Funding for AHFC Energy Weatherization Programs (utilizing federal funds and funds from the AHFC Dividend)

Transportation

  • Improvements along the Copper River Highway and development of the Wood River Canyon bridges and trails
  • Funding for the Dalton Highway Heavy Maintenance milepost
  • Support for Alaska West Coast Resiliency Projects for damage to infrastructure caused by Typhoon Merbok (combination of federal and state funds)
  • Funding for Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities right-of-way clearing of vacated homeless encampments

Resources

  • Initiates a Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon marine harvest study
  • Continues the Alaska Marine Salmon Program to obtain critical marine research in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska
  • Develops forest infrastructure for increased timber sales in Southeast Alaska
  • Funds for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) to invest in marketing Alaska seafood over three years

Affordability

  • Support for the AHFC Rural Professional Housing Program and the AHFC Homeless Assistance Program
  • Implements expanded eligibility of the Child Care Assistance Program implementing Senate Bill 189
  • Funding for the Point Mackenzie Correctional Farm Produce Processing Plant
  • Aid for the University of Alaska Fairbanks – Agriculture and Food Systems for Alaska’s Economic Sustainability