JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The Latest on the Alaska Legislature (all times local):
2 p.m.
The state of Alaska is warning government workers that they could face being laid off, as legislators remain at odds over spending and a plan to address Alaska’s deficit.
Department of Administration spokeswoman Minta Montalbo said about 17,000 notices will be mailed to state employees Thursday. She noted that it does not appear a budget will be finalized by then.
Department of Administration Commissioner Sheldon Fisher sent an email to state employees Tuesday notifying them of the situation. Montalbo called it a “heads-up” ahead of the formal notification letters being mailed.
The notices serve as a 30-day warning that workers could be laid off if a budget isn’t finalized by July 1, which is the start of the new fiscal year.
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10:45 a.m.
The state of Alaska plans to send layoff warnings to thousands of government workers this week, as legislators remain at odds over spending and a plan to address Alaska’s deficit.
Department of Administration spokeswoman Minta Montalbo says about 17,000 notices will be sent to state employees Thursday, “barring swift action by the Legislature.”
That doesn’t include the university, legislature or courts, which Montalbo says are responsible for notifying their employees.
The notices serve as a 30-day warning that workers could be laid off if a budget isn’t finalized by July 1.
Notices were sent in 2015 but rescinded when a budget deal was reached.
Since then, as oil prices have remained low, lawmakers have required additional time to pass a budget and struggled to find agreement on a deficit-reduction plan.
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