Online events explore revenue options for dealing with Alaska’s fiscal challenges

With the Legislature now holding a special session about the state’s fiscal challenges, “A-A-R-P Alaska” and the “Alaska Municipal League” are sponsoring weekly, online events about various revenue-options. Teresa Holt is “A-A-R-P Alaska’s” state-director… “Without enough oil-revenue or state-savings to draw from, Alaska is considering additional cuts—plus new ways to raise revenue—in order to help balance the budget, maintain programs and services, and continue issuing ‘P-F-D’-checks. However, when we surveyed our members, there was agreement—regardless of geography or party-affiliation—in opposition to continued cuts, but also in support of revenue-solutions. Over the next month, we’ll have a series of conversations with legislators—to explore revenue-options for a truly sustainable Alaska. While these options include oil-taxes, income-taxes, and sales-taxes, we will also be discussing several other potential solutions. We know that today’s older Alaskans want to stay in Alaska—and that a sustainable state-budget is important to our members. Indeed, a truly sustainable Alaska requires that we resolve our ongoing, structural budget-challenges.” The online events will be held each Thursday, at noon—through September 23rd—and are free for the public. To learn more, visit “a-a-r-p”-dot-org-slash-“a-k”.