State of Alaska spending on highest-paid executives increased more than 5% last year to over $24 million

The state of Alaska spent more than $24 million paying 167 executive-level officials in 2023, representing an increase of more than 5% in spending between 2022 and 2023, according to a recent report.

State spending on executive compensation has exceeded $20 million annually since 2009.

The state’s top-paid executive was Frank Richards, president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., who was compensated nearly $480,000. That is nearly $30,000 more than he was compensated in 2022, amounting to a 5.7% increase.

Next after Richards was University of Alaska President Pat Pitney, who was compensated nearly $404,000.

Alaska Railroad Corp. President William O’Leary received more than $382,000 in compensation, an increase of around $48,000 from 2022, accounting for a 14% boost.

Other executives earning more than $300,000 in 2023 included Alaska Housing Finance Corp. Director Bryan Butcher, Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. Director Deven Mitchell, University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Daniel White, and University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor Sean Parnell.

In addition, four executives earned more than $250,000, including Alaska Psychiatric Institute Director Scott York, Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority Director Randy Ruaro, and two vice presidents at the University of Alaska. Ten other executives earned more than $200,000.

The compensation of Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, along with members of his cabinet, went up in 2023 after Dunleavy last year replaced all five members of a board that recommends salary changes for top officials and the Legislature, paving the way for pay boosts for the governor, department heads and lawmakers.

Dunleavy’s pay went up from $145,000 in 2022 to nearly $159,000 in 2023. As a retired Alaska educator, Dunleavy also continues to earn a monthly state pension.

Dunleavy’s travel expenses went up 15% between 2022 and 2023, from around $40,000 to $46,000, according to the report. The governor’s out-of-state travel in 2023 included stops in Vail, Colorado; Berlin, Germany; and Paris, France. Dunleavy also attended four Safari Club International events, paid by the organization.

Dunleavy’s chief of staff, Tyson Gallagher, spent nearly $33,000 on travel, including $6,500 on a trip to Germany and around $22,000 on trips to Juneau during the four-month legislative session.

Jeremy Woodrow, executive director of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, who earned nearly $165,000 in 2023, spent nearly $8,700 on a 10-day trip to Portugal and Spain and $7,000 on a separate weeklong trip to Spain. Both were marked as “Executive Branch/Department Related Travel.”

Lori Wing-Heier, director of the Alaska Division of Insurance, spent nearly $3,500 on a trip to Tokyo, Japan, for “Conference/Training Related Travel.”

Richards, who heads the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., spent more than $43,000 on travel, including $15,000 on a five-day trip to China; more than $6,000 on a five-day trip to Houston, Texas; and nearly $10,000 on two, three-day trips to Washington, D.C.

The state’s biggest travel spender was Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle, who spent more than $67,000 on trips. His expenses included $9,200 for a five-day trip to Houston, Texas; $5,500 for a four-day trip to New York; and $3,400 for a four-day trip to Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Lawmakers’ salaries did not go up in 2023, but a pay increase from $50,400 per year to $84,000 per year went into effect at the beginning of the current year.

In total, lawmakers reported spending just under $360,000 on travel in 2023. Spending levels varied among legislators. Sitka Republican Sen. Bert Stedman reported nearly $44,000; Nome Democratic Rep. Neal Foster reported more than $41,000; and Dillingham independent Rep. Bryce Edgmon spent $36,000. Together, the three’s travel expenses accounted for a third of all travel spending by the state’s 60 lawmakers.

Nine lawmakers reported no travel expenses at all. Thirteen lawmakers reported spending less than $1,000 each.

Separately, lawmakers reported spending $358,000 on moving expenses from their home districts to Juneau, spending that can vary depending on whether lawmakers reside in rural districts and whether they choose to move with their children.

Golovin Democratic Sen. Donny Olson, who has seven children, spent almost $29,000 moving to Juneau for the four-month session. Utqiagvik independent Rep. Josiah Patkotak, who resigned last year after winning a borough mayor election, reported spending over $17,000.

Kodiak Sen. Gary Stevens, Fairbanks Rep. Will Stapp, Eagle River Rep. Jamie Allard, Nikiski Sen. Jesse Bjorkman and Homer Rep. Sarah Vance — all Republicans — spent more than $13,000 each moving to Juneau for the four-month session. Most lawmakers reported spending less than $6,000 on moving expenses.