Nonprofit sues governor for not paying $20M to schools

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – An Alaska nonprofit is suing the governor and the state education commissioner for not paying the $20 million to public K-12 schools that lawmakers agreed to last year.

The Anchorage Daily News reports Coalition for Education Equity filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Anchorage Superior Court.

The nonprofit claims the executive branch has violated the Alaska Constitution by withholding the one-time payout of $20 million that the Alaska Legislature appropriated to public schools.

The Coalition for Education Equity is asking the court to order Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Education Commissioner Michael Johnson to release the $20 million to schools immediately.

Governor’s spokesman Matt Shuckerow says if the Legislature chooses not to act on the proposed legislation, the $20 million will be distributed according to law.

Shuckerow says the governor’s office does not comment on pending litigation.
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Information from: Anchorage Daily News, http://www.adn.com