Alaska’s new director of the Office of Management and Budget has a big job ahead of her. Governor Walker announced on Friday that he wants to put a hold on six large projects until they can be thoroughly reviewed. The projects are the small diameter gas pipeline, the Kodiak rocket launch complex, the Knik Arm bridge, the Susitna-Watana hydroelectric dam, the Juneau access road and the Ambler road.
OMB’s new director Pat Pitney says she wants Alaskans to be involved in the conversation on how to trim the state budget as the price of oil falls. Pitney is a former vice chancellor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
She says budget cuts are necessary, but the Walker administration wants to be strategic about where they happen.
Lori Townsend is the chief editor, senior vice president of journalism and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452. Read more about Lori here.
