Assembly members call for hiring of budget analyst

The purpose of the job would be to help Anchorage's legislative body understand budgets and financial records and it would cost taxpayers about $120,000 including benefits, according to its proponents. At a news conference Monday afternoon, Assembly members Elvi Gray-Jackson, Matt Claman and Harriet Drummond voiced their support for the plan.

The position has been vacant since 2007, though Cheryl Frasca, now director of the Office of Management and Budget, was contracted to help assist with the 2008 budget.

The move comes on the heels of persisting criticism by Mayor Dan Sullivan and others that last year's mayor, Mark Begich, knew about and failed to clearly tell the Assembly the city wasn't going to have enough money to cover all its budgeted expenses for the past two years. Begich has denied those allegations.

The three Assembly members who support reinstating the position say it probably wouldn't have prevented the current budget crisis because nobody knew the extent that the downtrodden economy would lower city revenue. But they say the position would give the Assembly an extra set of eyes to help examine executive budget proposals and allow the Assembly to make informed decisions.

"I'm floored that the legislative body of the Assembly does not have a budget analyst," said Drummond, noting that previous attempts to get the position reinstated had fallen short of votes. "But it's clear from the events of the last few months that we really need our budget analyst."

Several Assembly members have expressed opposition to the proposal, however, saying it doesn't make sense to add a position for the body at a time when city leaders are asking departments to make budget cuts.

"It's unfortunate that these Assemblymen do not feel comfortable enough in reviewing the budget and contract terms on their own to make an educated decision on the individual budget components," Assemblyman Chris Birch said. "We've been facing an uphill battle in this whole budget scenario, and just trying to balance the budget out, and, to me, I'd rather put the money into fire and police."

Gray-Jackson, who once worked as an Assembly budget analyst, said the position would add some $56,000 to the city budget, not the full $120,000, because it would take advantage of $65,000 in funding for a minutes-clerk position that has been eliminated.

Sullivan said he thought that money was going instead to the Federation of Community Councils and said he would need clarification on where the funding would come from. Still, Sullivan said, his proposed budget cuts are part of a plan to stay about $10 million below the tax cap, and as long as the $420 million budget fits that he doesn't plan to "nitpick" that level of spending.

"I've told the Assembly that there will be a little bit of wiggle room in terms of overall spending, and if this is one of the areas that they want to spend some money on, I guess I don't have any objection," Sullivan said. "It's clear after last year they probably need real experts to help them."

Find James Halpin online at adn.com/contact/jhalpin or call him at 257-4589.