Legislator suggests renting out Governor's House when it's not being used

Vacation rental: Historic six-bedroom, 10-bathroom mansion with eight fireplaces and ballroom. Vacant much of the year. Conveniently located in the heart of downtown Juneau, within easy walking distance of the Alaska State Capitol and other attractions.

A bill introduced on March 17 by Fairbanks Rep. Will Stapp would turn the Alaska Governor’s House into a short-term rental. House Bill 139 would allow rentals at the three-story, 14,400-square-foot residence “when the legislature is not in session and the governor has not reserved the mansion in advance.”

No specific rental rates or other terms are specified in the bill, instead mandating that the governor’s office “shall adopt regulations establishing a system for making the governor’s mansion available for a person to rent and the fee charged for renting the mansion.”

Passage into law is unlikely.

Stapp, in an interview March 19, said the intent of the bill is to demonstrate that lawmakers are being fiscally responsible with state assets at a time when a large budget shortfall looms and remedies such as new tax measures are being considered. He said it isn’t directed specifically at Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a fellow Republican, who spends most of his time away from Juneau.

“I didn’t look at it as sending a message to the governor,” Stapp said. “I would just look at it as ‘Hey, this is an easy example to highlight’ about ‘Hey, what are we doing? How are we spending our state’s money?’”

Stapp, a member of the House Finance Committee, said the governor’s residence is “an $800,000-a year-operating expense.”

Dunleavy’s proposed budget for the coming year includes a four-person staff at the mansion — a manager, a chef and two housekeepers — at a cost of about $531,000. Other costs include a broad range of categories such as utilities, maintenance and office expenses.

The mansion is used for a limited number of public events such as the governor’s annual holiday open house as well as numerous private events.

The governor’s mansion hosted its first holiday party in January 1913, shortly after construction was finished.