The Nome Common Council voted Monday to set the city’s contribution to Nome Public Schools (NPS) at $3 million for fiscal year 2027, following extensive debate over the city budget and testimony from students who urged council members to invest more in local schools.
The council vote came after the NPS Board of Education approved its budget at a March 24 meeting, triggering a 30-day deadline for the city to finalize its contribution to the district.
Under state law, if the city failed to finalize its contribution within those 30 days, the district’s initial request of $3.5 million would automatically be approved.
According to the same section of state law, the district isn’t required to pass a budget until May 1 each calendar year, which has historically given the council the month of May to work through its budget. In 2025, the council finalized its contribution to NPS on May 27 and May 28 the year before.
The expedited timeline drew frustration from council member Scot Henderson.
“We have just seen the first draft of the operating budget this evening. It wasn't even in the packet,” Henderson said. “My first question is, why are we doing this now?”
In a work session before the regular meeting, the council reviewed a first draft of the city’s own budget for the upcoming fiscal year. It included a $1,076,359 deficit, which would be balanced by drawing from the city’s dwindling savings. But Henderson pointed out the city’s revenue projections seemed to be on the conservative side.
“I thought there would be a larger increase in revenue, considering the extraordinary amount of development that's happening, and taxable sales with port development, all of the construction projects, all the contractors just the all the activity,” Henderson inquired.
Nome City Manager Lee Smith agreed, saying he wanted to put down a minimum amount to start with.
A resolution put before the council set the city contribution to NPS at $2.7 million, but budget documents presented during the work session pegged the amount at $3 million. Smith explained to the council he was “comfortable” with the increased amount, and recommended amending the resolution.
“We'll be negotiating over the next few weeks to see if you can increase it. But I was looking at least the $3 million in this resolution. Totally up to you, or the $2.7, it's up to council,” Smith said.
Council member Kohren Green made a motion to approve an amendment to the resolution to increase the amount to $3 million. During discussion, council member Adam Lust expressed confidence the city could justify the extra amount in light of the potentially higher revenue figures.
“I don't think coming up with three [million] is going to be a problem,” Lust said. “If it's a gesture of goodwill to get it up to that three [million] and hopefully again, eke out more as we actually get to go through our budget process, I think it’s sensible.”
Henderson was the only council member to vote against the motion to amend the resolution, but eventually voted with the rest of the council to pass the resolution with the amended $3 million amount. During council member comments at the end of the meeting, Henderson said he didn't plan to vote for an unbalanced budget this cycle.
Student testimony
Click the play button below to watch a replay of the public comment period.
Following remarks from NPS Superintendent Jamie Burgess, six current and one former Nome-Beltz Middle High School students addressed the council during a public comment period.
Renee Brown, a junior at the ANSEP Acceleration Academy housed at Nome-Beltz, said she volunteers at Nome Elementary School where she helps students with reading.
“There are third graders who are just now learning to read, reading at kindergarten pace,” Brown said. “I just think that this is a really important matter, and this affects the future of students in Nome, and this affects the future of Nome so I feel like it should receive more consideration.”
Former student Wookie Nichols said college preparedness has taken a step backward compared to her senior year last year.
“It can really impact a lot of kids going to college and the jobs that they're getting and the scholarships that they're getting,” Nichols said. “It's just disheartening, because there's not much help and information put into the school, and it's sad because they're losing a bunch of opportunities.”
Claire Fagerstrom said Nome-Beltz is in disrepair, with black ceiling tiles and water leaking from the roof.
“I know that they did recently remodel, but then this year again the pipes were leaking. Ceilings were taken out, and just trash cans everywhere to catch water, even in the gym,” Fagerstrom said.
While addressing questions from the council during the meeting, Burgess explained that the city owns the buildings, and that major maintenance was the city’s responsibility.
“These are your buildings. And so when people say that our buildings are falling into disrepair and states not helping with everything, but the city also has a responsibility when it comes to that, to keep the buildings in good repair,” Burgess said.
Council members are expected to continue reviewing the city budget in the coming weeks. Its next scheduled meeting is April 27. NPS Board of Education is set to meet April 14 to review changes to its own budget, which was initially passed with a city contribution of $3.5 million. Burgess confirmed Tuesday afternoon the district would make adjustments based on the $3 million passed by the city.
