In reversal, Alaska House includes $4M for Anchorage homeless shelter in budget draft

The spending plan draft set for consideration by the Alaska House this week includes $4 million for operating an Anchorage homeless shelter, after the Finance Committee reversed its previous action in nixing the funding. The $4 million request — supported by the Anchorage Assembly, Mayor Dave Bronson, and some Anchorage lawmakers, was initially rejected by the committee in a 6-5 vote earlier this month. Two days later, the funding was added to the budget in a 7-4 vote, after two committee members flipped their positions. The funding — if it...