Alaska Coffers

In our local paper, Daily News-Miner, August 31, 1999, they are running a six part story concerning Alaska's permanent fund program and whether the fund should be used to run government. To make a long story short, Alaska gives all its residents a dividend each year as a share of the oil wealth from the Alaskan oil pipeline. The article is called Yes or no: Which is best for Alaska? (front page). On September 14th, we go into vote whether the state can use some of this money (and lower our dividends) to pay for government. A few small parts of the story talk about Alaska's budget: A NO vote would send lawmakers back to the committee rooms to try and fill the state's $1 billion budget hole and Until lawmakers find a solution, they will draw down the Constitutional Budget Reserve to plug the hole. That practice will come to an abrupt halt in about 2003, when the account empties.

Offered by Clipper.