Alaska state budget

Senators listen to testimony on the proposed income tax Tuesday night, April 25, 2017 in the Alaska Capitol. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Alaskans ask to be taxed

If you listened to all of the testimony Tuesday night, you’d come up with a surprising conclusion: Alaskans want an income tax. In a marathon… Continue reading

Senators listen to testimony on the proposed income tax Tuesday night, April 25, 2017 in the Alaska Capitol. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
Sen. Shelly Hughes, R-Palmer, left, and Sen. Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, right, listen as Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Homer, presents House Bill 115, a revived Alaska income tax, to the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 in the Alaska Capitol. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Alaska Senate reluctantly examines income tax

A panel of the Alaska Senate has taken its first, reluctant, look at a proposal to revive the state’s income tax. In a series of… Continue reading

Sen. Shelly Hughes, R-Palmer, left, and Sen. Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, right, listen as Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Homer, presents House Bill 115, a revived Alaska income tax, to the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 in the Alaska Capitol. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
A box full of cash to pay a local marijuana business’s state tax was returned after the US Postal Service refused to transport it to Anchorage saying that it was drug money. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Feds block Rainforest Farms pot shop from paying state taxes

The federal government will not let Rainforest Farms pay its taxes. Late last week, Juneau’s first legal marijuana retailer was turned away by the U.S.… Continue reading

A box full of cash to pay a local marijuana business’s state tax was returned after the US Postal Service refused to transport it to Anchorage saying that it was drug money. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen speaks during an interview at the Juneau Empire on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘Death by a thousand cuts’: University bracing for the worst

Students will pay higher tuition. There will be fewer classes and fewer professors. Campus buildings will be shut down, sold or leased. If the Alaska… Continue reading

University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen speaks during an interview at the Juneau Empire on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Gov. Bill Walker holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, to announce he has invited the Senate and House leadership to meet with him to work on an agreement on Alaska’s budget crisis. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Gov. Walker proposes summit to help lawmakers fix budget

In a talk with reporters on Tuesday morning, Gov. Bill Walker renewed his determination that Alaska lawmakers should come up with a plan to solve… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, to announce he has invited the Senate and House leadership to meet with him to work on an agreement on Alaska’s budget crisis. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

House approves income tax

It was tax day. On April 15, the Alaska House of Representatives voted 22-17 to impose Alaska’s first income tax in 37 years. Juneau’s two… Continue reading

Juneau Pioneers’ Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Alaska Senate’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday. Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Juneau Pioneers’ Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Alaska Senate’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. A resident of the home for four years, Woodman was being visited by Carol Schriver, left. After outcry from the community, state senators are now asking Gov. Bill Walker to save the Pioneer Homes. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senators ask governor to save Pioneer Homes

The Alaska Senate is calling on Gov. Bill Walker to save the Pioneer Homes in Juneau and Palmer from the Senate’s own cuts. In a… Continue reading

Juneau Pioneers’ Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Alaska Senate’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday. Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Juneau Pioneers’ Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Alaska Senate’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. A resident of the home for four years, Woodman was being visited by Carol Schriver, left. After outcry from the community, state senators are now asking Gov. Bill Walker to save the Pioneer Homes. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senators ready to negotiate fiscal fix

When it comes to fixing Alaska’s $2.8 billion deficit, nothing is written in stone. Not even a bill that both the Alaska House and Senate… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker leaves the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives with his legislative liaison Darwin Peterson, center, and Communication Director Grace Jang after watching the House passed their version of Senate Bill 26 on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. The bill would draw from the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund to address Alaska’s $2.7 billion funding gap, and cap the Permanent Fund Dividend at $1,250 for the next two years. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska House votes to lower Permanent Fund Dividend

For the first time in state history, the Alaska Legislature has chosen to spend the Alaska Permanent Fund on something other than dividends. On Wednesday,… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker leaves the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives with his legislative liaison Darwin Peterson, center, and Communication Director Grace Jang after watching the House passed their version of Senate Bill 26 on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. The bill would draw from the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund to address Alaska’s $2.7 billion funding gap, and cap the Permanent Fund Dividend at $1,250 for the next two years. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Luann McVey, left, and Laura Stats sit in the mostly vacant public seating area after giving their public testimony on SB 26 to the House Finance Committee at the Capitol on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Income tax, Permanent Fund spending plan advance toward vote

The Alaska House of Representatives will soon vote on the 49th state’s first income tax since 1980 and a plan to use the earnings of… Continue reading

Luann McVey, left, and Laura Stats sit in the mostly vacant public seating area after giving their public testimony on SB 26 to the House Finance Committee at the Capitol on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau Pioneer Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Legislature’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. A resident of the home for four years, Woodman was being visited by Carol Schriver, left. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senate budget cuts threaten to close Juneau, Palmer Pioneer Home

Marion Rider has lived in Alaska since 1960. The Alaska Senate may leave her homeless. Included within the Republican-led Senate’s proposal for $276 million in… Continue reading

Juneau Pioneer Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Legislature’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. A resident of the home for four years, Woodman was being visited by Carol Schriver, left. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
House votes for oil industry to help resolve deficit

House votes for oil industry to help resolve deficit

When it comes to solving Alaska’s $2.8 billion deficit, the Alaska House of Representatives is asking the oil industry to pitch in. It isn’t clear… Continue reading

House votes for oil industry to help resolve deficit

Senate slashes millions from schools, university and health care

If the Alaska Senate gets its way, Alaskans can expect fewer teachers, less ferry service, fewer criminal prosecutors, fewer Alaska State Troopers and a much… Continue reading

House wavers on income tax

House wavers on income tax

Does the Alaska House of Representatives have the votes to approve Alaska’s first income tax since 1980? “We’re working on it,” Speaker of the House… Continue reading

House wavers on income tax
Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, right, listens to David Teal, fiscal analyst for the Alaska Legislature, during a Senate Finance Committee meeting at the Capitol on Monday, April 3, 2017. Sen. Dunleavy offered amendments to the operating budget bill to cut funding for public broadcasting and significantly reduced funding for the Alaska Marine Highway system. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senate plan slashes education, university, transportation, health services

The Alaska Senate has proposed slashing the state’s public education system, university system, department of transportation, and health care. The Senate Finance Committee on Monday… Continue reading

Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, right, listens to David Teal, fiscal analyst for the Alaska Legislature, during a Senate Finance Committee meeting at the Capitol on Monday, April 3, 2017. Sen. Dunleavy offered amendments to the operating budget bill to cut funding for public broadcasting and significantly reduced funding for the Alaska Marine Highway system. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Marijuana tax revenue rises, but isn’t as high as state expected

The state of Alaska collected $128,000 of marijuana taxes from 20 growers statewide in February, according to new figures from the Alaska Department of Revenue.… Continue reading

(Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, speaks at the Native Issues Forum in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, March 30, 2017. The event is hosted by Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Cheers for first Alaska Native House Speaker, state income tax

There aren’t many crowds in Alaska that will cheer for an income tax. In a lunchtime address, the state’s first Alaska Native Speaker of the… Continue reading

Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, speaks at the Native Issues Forum in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, March 30, 2017. The event is hosted by Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Rolling back criminal justice reform would cost Alaska millions

Rolling back criminal justice reform would cost Alaska millions

Senate Bill 91, one of the biggest changes to Alaska’s criminal justice system in decades, was touted as using an evidence-based approach to emphasize treatment… Continue reading

Rolling back criminal justice reform would cost Alaska millions
David Teal, director of the Legislative Finance Division, shares financial models for House Bill 115 and Senate Bill 26 with members of the House Finance Committee on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 in the Capitol. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Open ears at the Capitol

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre sat confidently in front of the House Finance Committee on Tuesday morning and presented the perfect plan to fix… Continue reading

David Teal, director of the Legislative Finance Division, shares financial models for House Bill 115 and Senate Bill 26 with members of the House Finance Committee on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 in the Capitol. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

House’s proposed income tax would hit rich Alaskans most, but you’ll pay too

The coalition leading the Alaska House of Representatives has a plan to erase Alaska’s $2.7 billion annual deficit in three years. You’ll pay for part… Continue reading