Budget Crisis Highlights Need For Spending Cap
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner "Once again, irresponsible spending by state lawmakers has left us with a multibillion-dollar budget deficit. This latest crisis underscores the need to tighten the state’s “spending cap” on annual expenditures, and a bill recently passed by...
Senators Discuss PFD Restructure Plan
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner "The Interior’s three state senators returned to Fairbanks on Friday to make the case for a fiscal plan that relies only on restructuring the Alaska Permanent Fund and does not contain the income tax the House and governor are considering."...
Alaskans Testify Before Senate Finance Committee
Alaskans testified before the Senate Finance Committee on March 6, 2017 about three proposed budget solutions - SB 21, SB 26 and SB 70. The following are excerpts from some of the public testimony submitted: “We would like to express support for the approach to use of...
Senate Finance Public Testimony March 6 at 4P
Today at 4:00 PM, Senate Finance will be taking public testimony on SB70, SB26 & SB21 - all proposals to use Permanent Fund Earnings to help balance Alaska's budget. If you ever wanted to weigh in, this would be the time. If you are interested in testifying,...
Constituent Meetings – Feb. 25, 2017
Engaging with legislators is critical to Alaska's Future. Learn about the latest activities from our State Capitol and share your thoughts on efforts to close Alaska's $2.9 billion budget deficit. KENAI PENINSULA Feb. 25 - Kenai Area Town Hall Sen. Micciche, Rep....
‘Alaska’s Future’ Director Warns State Must Act On Budget Crisis Now, Before It’s Too Late
KFXF - Fairbanks "Executive Director of the group 'Alaska's Future', Ian Laing, spoke today as a part of the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce's 'Budget Blitz' on the state's budget crisis, and what should be done to help savings." Read more here.
Alaska Oil Bust Threatens Life of Few Taxes and Dividend Checks
Bloomberg - "The oil-industry rout is spurring Alaska to reconsider perks long enjoyed by its 741,894 residents: No income taxes, plus annual dividend checks drawn from the state’s investment earnings." Read more here.
Permanent fund restructure, income tax combo gets first hearing in Alaska House
KTVA - "Lawmakers are looking to the permanent fund as a long-term solution to Alaska’s $3 billion budget shortfall. But they have different opinions on how to use it. Three proposals are up for debate." Read more here.
Deficit-cutting plan from House majority uses income tax, Permanent Fund earnings
Alaska Dispatch News - "The Alaska House's new majority coalition revealed its proposal Friday for filling a huge chunk of the state's $3 billion deficit — using Permanent Fund investment revenue and an individual income tax." Read more here.
PFD bill gets committee hearing, Ortiz files mining resolution
Wrangell Sentinel - "Entering its third full week of the session, Alaska’s Legislature continues to look at a variety of spending cuts and revenue options." Read more here.
House’s majority coalition unveils budget fix, including income tax and Permanent Fund spending
Peninsula Clarion - "The coalition leading the Alaska House of Representatives has unveiled the core of its plan to erase Alaska’s $2.7 billion annual deficit." Read more here.
Legislative indecision has extended and worsened Alaska’s recession
Alaska Dispatch News - "Alaska's recession is worse than it needed to be because the state didn't solve its fiscal gap last year. The longer we wait for a solution, the longer the recession will last." Read more here.
Alaska lawmakers eye their own budget for reductions
Alaska Dispatch News - "Alaska lawmakers are taking a closer look at their own spending this year as they eye deeper cuts to state agencies and appear likely to ask residents to give up part of their Permanent Fund dividends." Read more here.
City Council advances plan to limit use of Fairbanks permanent fund
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - "The Fairbanks City Council advanced an ordinance that gradually would decrease the city’s annual draw from its permanent fund, but not without trepidation from Councilman Jerry Cleworth." Read more here.
Morning Headlamp – Motor Fuel Tax to Triple Under Walker’s Proposal
Alaska Business Monthly - "According to recent filings, accounting adjustments tied to past royalty payments helped Alaska recover an extra $117 million from oil and gas companies last year, primarily because federal pipeline regulators determined that the North...
Alaska must resolve the budget gap, encourage growth
ADN.com - "Alaska is at a tipping point and Alaskans have a choice to make: Either keep Alaska competitive and fix our fiscal crisis or continue down a path that ends in a failed economy." Read more here.
Why we need an income tax
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - "Our Alaska legislature has convened? What are they going to do about our $3 billion plus budget deficit?" Read more here.
Alaska governor urges action to address fiscal crisis
Washington Times - "Alaska Gov. Bill Walker on Wednesday urged lawmakers to end the bickering and get down to the serious business of resolving the state’s budget crisis, challenging them to put forth a plan if they don’t like what he’s proposed." Read more...
Walker renews call for budget reforms: ‘Denial doesn’t make the problem go away’
Adn.com - "Alaska Gov. Bill Walker made a renewed call for state budget reforms to a new Legislature in his annual State of the State speech Wednesday night, telling lawmakers that "denial doesn't make the problem go away." Read more here.
Extras on Excise: Alaska – The Last Frontier For Cheap Gas
Bloomberg BNA - "Alaska is joining the ranks of states considering raising state fuel taxes in order to generate additional revenue." Read more here.