Bring the Future Back North

Alaska is losing its population aged 18-64, and a third of our youth leave the state and never return. Our skilled public sector workforce is being educated and trained here in Alaska, but too frequently now moving for jobs with better benefits in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and elsewhere.

In this online forum, panelists discussed the pros, cons and costs of returning to a defined benefit retirement system for state employees.

Senator Cathy Giessel and Fate Putman, former Department of Revenue staffer, shared a plan they believe will stop the bleed of Alaska’s youth and skilled public sector workforce out of state – a return to a defined benefit retirement system for state employees.

Link to event video:

Link to bill language: Senate Bill 88

Link to Presenter Slides: Powerpoint Presentation