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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2024-04r K~NAI CITY OF KENAI RESOLUTION NO. 2024-04 Sponsored by: Douthit, Daniel A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE OF ALASKA MAKE A MEANINGFUL INCREASE TO THE BASE STUDENT ALLOCATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WHEREAS, the State of Alaska is constitutionally obligated to establish and maintain a system of public schools; and, WHEREAS, pursuant to AS 29.35.160, the Kenai Peninsula Borough is required to form a borough school district and to establish, maintain, and operate a system of public schools on an areawide basis; and, WHEREAS, the City of Kenai is served by the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and has three traditional schools in Kenai, one alternative high school, two charter schools, and one school within the Kenai Peninsula Youth Facility; and, WHEREAS, without a Base Student Allocation (BSA) increase or one-time funding, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will face an approximately $13 million budget deficit for FY25, which would likely require an increase in class size and elimination of programs important to our students and community members; and, WHEREAS, the BSA has not kept up with the increased costs and the rates of cumulative inflation; and, WHEREAS, the Kenai Peninsula Borough has continually increased local contributions to keep pace with these rising costs and has reached the maximum allowable amount resulting in a need for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District to decrease spending on essential programs; and, WHEREAS, the BSA amount directly affects how much the Kenai Peninsula Borough is allowed to contribute; and, WHEREAS, a meaningful increase to the BSA would help ensure adequate and equitable funding to maintain reasonable class sizes, provide basic student resource needs, and improve student outcomes; and, WHEREAS, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly voted unanimously by resolution to support a BSA increase, and we hereby support their request for a BSA increase. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA: Section 1. That Kenai City Council supports the Kenai Peninsula Borough's request for the Alaska Legislature to increase the BSA. Section 2. That a copy of this resolution will be sent to Governor Dunleavy and the Kenai Peninsula legislative delegation, the President of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, the Education Committees of the Alaska House and Alaska Senate, and the Finance Committees of the Alaska House and Alaska Senate. Section 3. That this Resolution takes effect immediately upon passage. PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, THIS 17TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2024. ~ ?l'l~£ -13 rian Gabriel Sr., Mayor New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] Resolution No. 2024-04 Page 2 of 2 ATTEST: ~Q\9,v Michelle M. Saner, MMC, City Clerk New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] ,--. I City of Kenai I 210 f=idalgo Ave, Kenai, AK 99611-7794 I 907.283.7535 I www.kenai.cily MEMORANDU M TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Mayor Gabriel and Council Members Council Member Alex Douthit Council Member Phil Daniel January 8, 2024 Resolution No. 2024-04 -Base Student Allocation This resolution requests the State of Alaska make a meaningful increase to the Base Student Allocation (BSA) for public schools. The BSA has not kept up with the increased costs and the rates of cumulative inflation, and the Kenai Peninsula Borough has continually increased local contributions to keep pace with these rising costs and has reached the maximum allowable amount. Without a meaningful increase to the BSA, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will need to decrease spending on essential programs and resources. An increase to the BSA is important to maintain and improve public schools in Kenai, including three traditional schools, one alternative high school, two charter schools, and one school within the Kenai Peninsula Youth Facility and will help ensure adequate and equitable funding to maintain reasonable class sizes, provide basic student resource needs, and improve student outcomes. Your consideration is appreciated.