Key takeaways
- Alaska state government spent $14.3 billion in fiscal 2024, the 42nd most of any state.
- Statewide purchasing runs through the Division of Shared Services, Procurement, and vendors register and find bids in Alaska Online Public Notices; IRIS Vendor Self Service.
- The fiscal year starts July 1; the governor's FY2028 budget proposal usually comes Dec. 15.
- The 2027 legislative session convenes Jan. 19 and is scheduled to adjourn May 19.
- A new governor, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, takes office Dec. 7, 2026.
Alaska government at a glance
| Fact | Alaska |
|---|---|
| State spending, FY 2024 | $14.3 billion (42nd of 50) |
| Fiscal year starts | July 1 |
| Next budget | FY2028 · proposal usually Dec. 15 |
| 2027 legislative session | Jan. 19 to May 19 (121 days) |
| Governor-elect | Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, takes office Dec. 7, 2026 |
| Central procurement office | Division of Shared Services, Procurement |
| Bid and vendor portal | Alaska Online Public Notices; IRIS Vendor Self Service |
| State CIO | Bill Smith, Chief Information Officer |
| Local governments | 181 total, including 17 special districts and 0 school districts |
| Public power and co-op utilities | 28 public power utilities and 19 electric co-ops |
| State prison population | 4,478 (end of 2023) |
How Alaska buys
- Central purchasing. The Division of Shared Services, Procurement handles statewide contracts and purchasing rules for state agencies.
- Where bids are posted. Alaska Online Public Notices; IRIS Vendor Self Service is where vendors register and find state solicitations.
- Registering as a vendor. Our Alaska vendor registration guide walks through the steps, fees and documents.
- Agencies and local buyers. Many agencies, universities, cities, counties and school districts buy on their own or through cooperative contracts; see our cooperative purchasing guide.
Budget and legislative calendar
- Fiscal year. Alaska's fiscal year starts July 1. The next budget covers FY2028.
- Governor's proposal. Usually released Dec. 15. Status as of Nov. 8, 2026: not yet released. Track it in our governor budget proposals tracker.
- 2027 session. Convenes Jan. 19 and is scheduled to adjourn May 19. See the 2027 legislative session calendar.
- New administration. Governor-elect Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins takes office Dec. 7, 2026. New administrations often bring new agency leaders and priorities; see new governors in 2027.
Technology and AI
- State CIO. Bill Smith, Chief Information Officer, leads the Office of Information Technology. See the full state CIO directory.
- AI policy. Our tracker counts no executive orders, no laws and no agency policies on government AI use. See the state AI policy tracker.
- How IT buying works. See how state agencies buy technology.
Largest public buyers in Alaska
The biggest Alaska entities on our national rankings. Each one runs its own budget and, in most cases, its own purchasing.
| Buyer | Type | Size | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | City | 287,155 residents (2025) | 76 of 100 largest cities |
| Ted Stevens Anchorage International | Airport | 2,729,285 passengers boarded (2025) | 59 of 100 busiest |
| Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility | Water utility | 221,351 people served | 176 of 208 largest |
Sources: KSG rankings of the largest cities, counties, school districts, public universities, transit agencies, airports, water utilities, public power utilities, police departments and other lists. Figures are from each list's source year.
Local government and utilities
- 181 local governments. That includes 17 special districts and 0 school districts. See special districts by state.
- Utilities. 28 public power utilities and 19 electric cooperatives serve 327,620 customers, 92% of the state. See Alaska utilities.
- Budget cycles. Cities, counties and school districts set their own fiscal years; see city and county budget calendars.
Alaska state holidays in 2027
Besides the 11 federal holidays, Alaska state offices close on these days in 2027:
- Seward's Day: Monday, March 29
- Alaska Day: Monday, Oct. 18
See the full 2027 federal and state holiday calendar.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We research Alaska buyers, time outreach to state and local budget cycles and get you in front of the people who own the problem you solve. See how our state and local sales development works.
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