Alaska’s Fiscal and Economic Future
The goal of this forum wass to move the statewide “conversation” about Alaska’s fiscal and economic challenges forward. To date the conversation had focused primarily on describing the nature and scale of Alaska’s fiscal challenge. The forum aimed to advance the conversation by focusing on:
- Impacts of fiscal options: expected effects of fiscal options, including not only the savings or new revenues they might generate, but also their short and long-term effects on the economy.
- Fiscal packages: Combinations of fiscal options which could balance state spending and revenues over time, and their combined impacts on the economy, industries, and individuals. Specific proposals will be presented to address our fiscal challenges.
- Implementation strategies: How and when the different fiscal options could be implemented, and the institutional and political challenges in doing so.
- Advance citizen involvement in the conversation about Alaska’s fiscal and economic future.
Four citizens presented proposals to fill the projected $2.5 billion annual gap for five consecutive years and then took questions. Moderators were Cliff Groh, Gunnar Knapp, and Larry Persily.
Citizen Proposals:
- Brad Keithley: “Sustainable Budget Proposal”
- Gary Wilken: “Everyone Helps a Little: A Five Year Fiscal Plan”
- John Havelock: “The Hat Trick”
- Liz Medicine Crow: “Progress will Come by Investing in our own”