Big issues unresolved as Alaska legislative deadline looms

JUNEAU — Alaska legislators face a looming constitutional deadline for completing their work, but they remain at odds over how best to address a multibillion-dollar state budget deficit.

Lawmakers have been grappling with that issue since failing to come up with a long-term solution last year. The state, which has long relied on oil revenue, has been using savings to help cover expenses amid chronically low oil prices.

While there’s general agreement about using earnings from the state’s oil-wealth fund — the Alaska Permanent Fund — as part of a fiscal plan, there are sharp differences over what else should be done.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The House majority, composed largely of Democrats, has seen a broad-based tax like an income tax as a key piece for a fiscal plan and has been supported in that position by Gov. Bill Walker, a Republican turned independent. The House majority made its support of the use of permanent fund earnings contingent upon passage of a broad-based tax and a rewrite of oil tax and credit policy, seeing that as a more balanced approach.

The Senate last week made official its long-standing opposition to an income tax by voting down the tax bill that passed the House. Its approach on oil taxes and credits also differs from the House.

The Republican-led Senate has proposed limits on future spending and cuts to public education and the university system that the House majority considers too deep.

The budget impasse, too, remains unresolved.

Senate President Pete Kelly told reporters Friday that compromising is not the goal. “Doing what’s in the best interest of the state of Alaska is the goal,” the Fairbanks Republican said.

House Finance Committee co-chair Rep. Paul Seaton said a solution that relies on permanent fund earnings alone is not enough. In terms of a path forward, “It’s difficult to try and figure out where we’re going to go,” said Seaton, one of three Republicans in the House majority coalition.

House Speaker Bryce Edgmon said Friday that he thinks there might be room for negotiation on other revenue options, but he did not say what those might be.

The constitution allows for regular sessions of up to 121 days, a mark that will be reached on Wednesday.

The Legislature can extend itself another 10 days with two-thirds support in each chamber. Another option is a special session.

More in News

Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna OKs $170,000 for new police camera system

The existing system was purchased only during the last fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2024.

Winter Marshall-Allen of the Homer Organization for More Equitable Relations, Homer Mayor Rachel Lord, and Jerrina Reed of Homer PRIDE pose for a photo after the mayoral proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month on Tuesday, May 27 at the Cowles Council Chambers. (Photo courtesy of Winter Marshall-Allen)
City of Homer recognizes Pride Month, Juneteenth

Mayor Rachel Lord brought back the tradition of mayoral proclamations May 12.

File
Potential remains of missing Texas boaters discovered in sunken vessel

The vessel capsized 16 miles west of Homer in Kachemak Bay in August.

A sign for The Goods Sustainable Grocery is seen in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
New Saturday Market to launch this summer at The Goods

The summer bazaar will feature craftspeople from around the central and southern Kenai Peninsula.

Council member Alex Douthit speaks during a meeting of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai loosens restrictions on employee purchase of city property

Municipal officers like city council members are still prohibited from buying property.

Mount Spurr is seen from the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, on May 11, 2025. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Likelihood of Spurr eruption continues to decline

Spurr is located about 61 miles away from Kenai and 117 miles away from Homer.

Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce President Dawson Slaughter (left) and Susie Myhill, co-owner of Anchor River Lodge and co-chair for the chamber’s sign committee, unveil the new “most westerly highway point” sign on Tuesday in Anchor Point. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Anchor Point chamber unveils new highway sign

The sign marks the “most westerly” highway point in North America.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
1 dead in Anchor River vehicle turnover

Alaska State Troopers were notified at 7:46 a.m. of a vehicle upside down in the Anchor River.

The barge, crane, and first pile of rock for the Kenai Bluff Stabilization Project is seen during a break in work at the bank of the Kenai River in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai bluff project underway

A roughly 5,000-foot-long berm will be constructed from the mouth of the Kenai River to near the city dock.

Most Read