Dunbar and Quinn-Davidson to introduce budget amendment package

According to a press release issued today by Budget and Finance Committee Co-Chair's Austin Quinn Davidson and Forrest Dunbar, an amendment package to the general operating budget to fund critical public safety items that were cut in Mayor Bronson’s proposed budget will be laid on the table at tonight's Assembly meeting.

The amendments will restore school resource officers at the Anchorage School District, fully fund the mobile crisis team at the fire department, restore building safety inspectors in the building department, and continue the municipality’s investment in domestic violence prevention and pre-K education through the alcohol tax.

According to the press release, the proposed amendments will reduce the number of middle managers and political appointees, which have been significantly expanded by Mayor Bronson, and use those savings to help fund services for Anchorage’s residents.

"We heard loud and clear from our community that they want public safety fully funded and the alcohol tax managed in the way that was approved by the voters," said Dunbar.

Both Dunbar and Quinn-Davidson say that the amendments will keep the operating budget under the tax cap and will likely be accompanied by amendments to the capital and utility budgets, made by both Assembly Budget leadership and other Assembly Members.

Last night on Twitter, East Anchorage Assembly Member Dunbar telegraphed the proposed amendment package, writing that the Assembly was going to undo Mayor Bronson's cuts because it was the right thing to do and what Anchorage residents expected of the Assembly when they passed the alcohol tax last year.

Tonight's Anchorage Assembly meeting begins at 5:00 pm. Certain to be lively.