The Anchorage Assembly passed the city’s 2023 operating budget on Tuesday after making a series of changes, adding about $3.6 million to Mayor Bronson’s $583.6 million spending plan.
Assembly members passed the $587 million city budget in a 9-3 vote. It will take effect on Jan. 1.
Eagle River/Chugiak Assembly members Jamie Allard and Kevin Cross and South Anchorage Assembly member Randy Sulte voted against the budget. They had voted against some of the changes and additions other members approved during the Assembly’s budget amendment process Tuesday evening. The city uses contractors to help departments provide services like snow removal, and those year-over-year contract costs are increasing by large amounts, she said.
The Assembly had initially planned for an addition of just $1 million for snow removal. But that increase would only allow the city’s Maintenance and Operations Department to continue the same level of service that residents saw last year, the department’s street maintenance manager, Paul VanLandingham, told Assembly members Tuesday night.
“I can’t assure you there will be any improvements, because we are struggling with manpower issues right now. I don’t know how much more work we will be able to complete,” VanLandingham said. While both provide a type of mental health crisis response, their work is different and the city needs more of each, Assembly member Meg Zaletel said.
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