The Operating budget: A 23% increase!
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On December 10, 2007 Governor Sarah Palin introduced her administration's proposed fy09 operating budget. The administration touted their plan to hold operating state operating expenses to just a 4 percent increase,
According to the press release:
Prior to the Palin administration, Alaskans had seen growth in government spending averaging 14 percent a year.
Even with skyrocketing costs such as energy prices, health care and retirement costs, the Palin administration is committed to find way to slow the growth.
It has changed direction by proposing a 1 percent increase in agency operations and a 4 percent increase in total General Fund Spending.
However when Palin's budget proposal was analyzed by the legislative finance division, the administration's budget was found to be a 15 percent increase in spending, not the 4 percent as was originally advertised.
On Saturday, the legislature passed the final version of the fy09 operating budget which will end up being 23 percent higher.
Will the governor sign off on a 23 percent increase in state operating expenses when she promised to hold growth to 4 percent?
To see the official press statement about the governor's fy09 budget:
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