Peninsula Clarion, January 15, 2015

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Changes

Anglers experiment with ways to fool fish

Jets, 49ers name new head coaches

Tight Lines/A-12

Sports/A-9

CLARION

Showers 41/34 More weather on Page A-2

P E N I N S U L A

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Vol. 45, Issue 90

50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday

Cotten picked to lead Fish and Game

Question Should lawmakers be constitutionally prohibited from using the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund to pay for state government? n Yes n No To place your vote and comment, visit our Web site at www. peninsulaclarion. com. Results and selected comments will be posted each Tuesday in the Clarion, and a new question will be asked. Suggested questions may be submitted online or e-mailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com.

Fish board members decline to interview Maw By RASHAH McCHESNEY Peninsula Clarion

In the news Nearly 16,000 Alaskans sign up for insurance

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JUNEAU (AP) — Government figures show nearly 16,000 Alaskans already have signed up for private health insurance through the federal online marketplace during this enrollment period. That compares with about 13,000 that signed up during the initial open enrollment period, which spanned six months. The current enrollment period started Nov. 15. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that as of last Friday, 15,830 Alaskans had signed up for coverage. There was no immediate breakdown of how many of those are renewals or firsttime enrollees. Regional director Susan Johnson said she is pleased with the enrollments so far, calling the response strong and positive. Most Alaskans enrolling through the exchange have been eligible for federal help to pay for their policies. Open enrollment for insurance coverage this year ends Feb. 15.

Inside ‘How much oil we have is an economic and technical question, not a geologic one.’ ... See page A-5

Index Opinion.................. A-4 Nation.................... A-5 World..................... A-7 Sports.....................A-9 Tight Lines........... A-12 Arts........................ B-1 Classifieds............. B-3 Comics................... B-6 Check us out online at www.peninsulaclarion.com To subscribe, call 283-3584.

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion

Hard-knock life

Annie (played by Anya Hondel) and a stray dog Sandy (Kincaid Jenness) rehearse for the Triumvirate Theatre’s production of the musical Annie on Tuesday in Nikiski. Read more about the show on Page B-1.

During deliberations over three of the four candidates for Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Board of Fisheries members weighed in with their opinions on the credentials. But, when Kenai Peninsula commercial fisherman Roland Maw’s name came up its members were silent and voted unanimously not to interview him for the position. During a joint meeting of the state’s Board of Fisheries and Board of Game, 14 people met and ultimately decided to send one name to Gov. Bill Walker as a recommendation for the position, that of Acting Commissioner Sam Cotten. If Walker approves Cotten’s nomination the Eagle River man will face a final confirmation from the Legislature before dropping “acting” from his title. Several Board of Fish and Board of Game members supported Cotten, many citing his experience in the Legislature and on the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council. “He has an extensive background on Legislature, House and Senate, which See PICK, page A-11

KPC ponders upcoming budget process By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion

While students at Kenai Peninsula College Kenai River campus return to classes this week, college administrators have started to evaluate next year’s budget as the state considers significant budget cuts. KPC Director Gary Turner said with Gov. Bill Walker proposing somewhere between a 5 to 8 percent state operating budget reduction, he has had discussions with staff about what the impacts to the college could be. “KPC is extremely fiscally

conservative and responsible,” he said. “We think we will do OK, but how long will (the state deficit) last? My crystal ball is broken.” KPC fiscal year 2013 budget was $16.6 million with a payroll of $11.1 million, according to its website. Despite tuition coming in from the 2,887 students enrolled, the state still picks up 60 percent of the cost, he said. Alaska resident tuition rates for the 2014-15 year are $174 per credit for lower division courses and $210 for upper division courses. Graduate rates are $403 per credit.

‘We are in the planning process but the governor and the Legislature have the final say. Until then we are shooting in the dark.’ — Gary Turner, KPC director The University of Alaska Board of Regents last November decided to not approve a tuition increase. While that was great news for students, tuition helps with operating costs and the college will have to take that into account, Turner said.

“We are in the planning process but the governor and the Legislature have the final say,” he said. “Until then we are shooting in the dark.” Turner chairs a leadership team that meets monthly throughout the year to discuss

important college matters. The team will meet Friday to discuss how the college can generate revenue and avoid certain costs. Administrators have run several financial scenarios based on the state’s deficit projections to get an idea of what their budget could look like. He said 73 percent of the college’s costs are in faculty and staff. Turner said there is a button on the KPC website where employees can submit ideas anonymously for how the college could generate revenue. Walker has a similar option on the state website called, “voices for viSee BUDGET, page A-11

AARP’s Tax-Aide ready to help District sees drop By IAN FOLEY Peninsula Clarion

With tax season fast approaching, AARP’s Tax-Aide program will be available to help Kenai Peninsula residents in need of tax assistance. AARP first introduced TaxAide in 1968 as a free service for taxpayers with low to moderate income, in order to help them prepare their tax returns. According to the AARP website, each year, more than 2.6 million people are helped nationwide by the program’s 35,000 volunteers. While Tax-Aide has been available in the central peninsula area in past years, this year sees the service move from the Sterling Senior Center to the Joyce K. Carver Memorial Li-

brary in Soldotna. Volunteers will be available every Thursday from 1-5 p.m. starting on Feb. 5 through April 15. Additional time will be available on the second Saturday of each month leading up to the tax deadline. Donna Brown, Tax-Aide’s Kenai District Coordinator, said that 93 people e-filed returns last year in the district. She said the move to Soldotna will help attract even more people to Tax-Aide. “It’s a better location,” Brown said. “It’s more central.” Brown said that all of the people helping with Tax-Aide in Alaska are volunteers. The program is currently looking for volunteers possessing various skills. According to the AARP website, available positions include tax volunteer, technology

coordinator, greeter and administrative volunteer. Brown said that before working with the public, volunteers will be trained and have several practice scenarios. Currently, the Kenai district has three volunteers, but Brown said that with more volunteers, the program could expand its hours in the library. While Brown would like more volunteers, she is pleased with the ones she currently has. “We’re blessed to have some people who have (important skills),” Brown said. While Tax-Aide is part of AARP, people of all ages can come for assistance. Brown said that in the past, 15-20 percent of people coming in for help have been younger than 60. See TAX, page A-11 C

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in fund balance use By KELLY SULLIVAN Peninsula Clarion

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will be using $1.3 million less of the fund balance than projected for the 2015 fiscal year. This is good news for the school district, said spokeswoman Pegge Erkeneff. “The fund balance we don’t use this year will be available for use in subsequent fiscal years,” Erkeneff said. Assistant Superintendent Dave Jones presented the budget revision to the Board of Education during

a work session on Monday, followed by an announcement that the 2016 fiscal year deficit is projected at nearly $6.5 million, but that number has not yet been finalized. The significant reduction in the need for fund balance money is a result of an increase in nearly $2.1 million in state aid, Jones said. Following the annual 20-day count completed in October the school district was found to have 16 more intensive needs students than estimated during last year’s enrollment count and projections, See SCHOOL, page A-11


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