Wrangell Sentinel -

State senators heard last week that based on current revenue forecasts, legislators will struggle to balance the budget with several big-spending items still to be considered.

The nonpartisan Legislative Finance Division explained that items currently pending, like benefits for low-income seniors, funding needed to start upgrading the Railbelt’s electrical grid and a large increase in state money for public education, were not included in the governor’s proposed budget.

Other spending, such as Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s insistence on $55 million for teacher bonuses in return for not vetoing a much l...