Juneau’s regional tribal organization is throwing its support behind the Alaska House Majority’s plan for fixing the state’s multibillion-dollar deficit.
On Tuesday, Grace Singh, speaking on behalf of the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, said the organization believes that “additional cuts jeopardize the constitutional and statutory obligations to provide public safety and health and social services to all Alaskans regardless of their socioeconomic status or where they reside.”
Earlier this year, the Central Council’s executive council approved Resolution 17-10, which says the Legislature should pass a “multifaceted tax structure that wholly addresses Alaska’s fiscal crisis.”
The four-part plan supported by the coalition House Majority includes spending from the Alaska Permanent Fund’s investment earnings, modest budget cuts, cuts to the state subsidy of oil and gas drilling, and an income tax.
Singh — speaking alongside her sister Natasha Singh, representing Tanana Chiefs Conference — said the important thing in solving the state’s deficit is equity. Rural Alaska should not pay more than other parts of the state.
The Alaska Senate Majority has proposed an alternative means of addressing the deficit. The Senate’s proposal calls for deep, as-yet-unidentified cuts to state services and spending from the Alaska Permanent Fund’s earnings. The Senate plan does not wholly eliminate the deficit.
The Singhs’ comments came as members of the House Finance Committee continued to hear testimony on the need to implement a complete fix for Alaska’s annual deficit.
Joining the Singhs on Tuesday were Jonathan King of Northern Economics and Laurie Wolf of the Foraker Group, among others.
On Wednesday, the testimony continued from Joe Schierhorn of Northrim Bank, Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre, and Vince Beltrami of the AFL-CIO, among others.
“We often hear that we want an income tax because we wouldn’t pay for it,” Natasha Singh said. “That’s simply not the case. We want an income tax because that’s what’s best for Alaska.”
Contact reporter James Brooks at james.k.brooks@juneauempire.com or call 419-7732.
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