Gov. Bill Walker is laying out a bleak financial picture as it becomes increasingly apparent he will not get the plan he hoped for to address Alaska’s gaping deficit during this special session.
Walker said his administration has done everything it could to get lawmakers to address revenue generating measures like a sales tax and using earnings from the Alaska Permanent Fund. He said lawmakers hold Alaska’s future in their hands.
Little has happened since the special session started Monday. Walker said he heard the session could end by Friday. He questioned the usefulness of calling legislators into another special session if they don’t pass a plan.
Walker’s administration said a major state savings account could be depleted next year. After that, without a plan, there would be drastic cuts to school funding, many health programs would be reduced or end and thousands of state employees would lose jobs.
