An engaged Alaskan democracy

Forum held in Anchorage to discuss Alaska’s Fiscal Future

By KTVA CBS 11 News 11:56 AM October 5, 2014
ANCHORAGE – Experts from across the state are trying to determine if the decline in oil production puts Alaska’s fiscal future in jeopardy.The Alaska Common Ground hosted a forum Saturday at the Loussac Library to discuss a range of fiscal topics, including the long-term oil decline, education funding, capital projects and the role of the Permanent Fund.

Organizers say they hope Saturday’s forum will get Alaskans thinking about their state’s future and whether a sales or income tax is inevitable down the line.

“We’re looking, though, to the future here,” said John Havelock, former Alaska attorney general. “And there is a certain pessimism because oil revenues are going down. But as I was pointing out, the revenues are not going to disappear, not in any foreseeable future, and the rate of decline gets slower and slower every year.”

Read more here and see the video.