Fairbanks Borough pledges additional $2 million in school funding as district faces budget uncertainty
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF/KTUU) - As the Alaska State Legislature continues debating 2025-2026 academic year funding, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly has approved spending $2 million more than last year on education funding.
The 7-2 vote, which increases spending from $58 million to $60 million, means about $775,000 constitutes additional funding.
Around $1.25 million of that amount keeps up with an increase in borough taxable property value, which lessens the state’s funding obligation.
The $16 million school district budget deficit for next year has led board members to vote to close three elementary schools next year: Midnight Sun, Two Rivers, and Pearl Creek.
The recommended budget the district submitted to the borough on April 1 also involves cutting around 151 staff positions, including around 52.5 teacher slots.
A $60 million local contribution was already built into the district’s planning for this year’s budget, based on a $680 per student increase to the state’s Base Student Allocation (BSA).
This means the assembly’s passing of Thursday’s $60 million funding resolution does not change the district’s planned cuts.
While the state legislature has passed a $1,000 BSA increase, Gov. Mike Dunleavy has threatened to veto it.
If the borough decides to fund above that amount, or the state legislature comes back with more than $680 added to the BSA, the district said it will use that money to lower the Pupil-Teacher Ratio, which under the current recommended budget, adds one student per teacher across grades K-12.
At the meeting, assemblymembers went back and forth over the increase, with Tammie Wilson saying she would vote against the resolution because the money for the increase came out of the general fund, and the budget process is ongoing.
Meanwhile, member Barbara Haney also objected to dipping into the balance of the general fund and argued that funding education is the responsibility of the state.
Assemblymember Liz Reeves-Ramos, while saying cuts may have to be found in the rest of the budget, voiced support for the resolution, arguing that funding education was a priority.
Kristan Kelly, who also sits on the assembly, said she understands frustration from those who argue the state is responsible for education funding, but added that the burden of not locally funding would end up falling on the community’s children.
In the final vote, Wilson and Haney constituted the “no” votes on the resolution.
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