The legislative session started on Jan. 21, and we immediately went to work. Education is once again at the forefront of conversations throughout the Capitol.

This past week, I was selected to be a part of a work group of legislators from both the majority and minority groups of the House and Senate, at the request of the governor, to work through the multitude of issues regarding education funding and policies. I am happy to report those initial conversations were productive and positive, and I look forward to continuing those conversations.

A strong education system creates a strong workforce, a vibrant economy, and thriving communities. We will continue the work started in the last legislative session to support our neighborhood schools, charter and correspondence programs, and other educational institutions.

We have started finance subcommittee work over the last couple of weeks, and I am serving on the Corrections, Public Safety, and Health Department subcommittees. When the Legislature adjourned last year, a budget surplus of $146.9 million was projected. That surplus quickly evaporated with the recent decline in oil prices, leaving us with a projected deficit of $81.5 million for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. This will play a significant role in the decision-making process surrounding the major topics of this year of education funding, Cook Inlet gas supply, capital budget requests, and the dividend.

In addition to all these major decisions, I look forward to working on and introducing a few bills in the coming weeks and will provide updates here and on Facebook. These bills will deal with various medical care, licensing, workforce, and education topics. As always, please call my office at 907-465-2693 or reach me by email at Rep.Justin.Ruffridge@akleg.gov with any concerns, comments, or questions, as we love to hear from you!

Justin Ruffridge represents House District 7, covering the central peninsula, in the Alaska Legislature.