"Institute for Social and Economic Research"

Soaring lumber prices could be a boon for Southeast Alaska’s struggling timber industry. The pandemic has fueled the demand for both renovations and the new home construction market, and supply has not kept up.

The amount of proposed state spending directly controlled by the legislature was projected to be nearly 25 percent more per person than any other state in the current fiscal year.

Knapp said he’ll retire from the top position in June, but will continue to work part-time to continue his research and public outreach about the state’s budget deficit.