State Senators painted a dire picture of Alaska’s financial outlook today; Senator Lyman Hoffman said they’ve studying what would happen if oil remains around $55 per barrel or if it rebounds closer to $70 per barrel…
Sen. Hoffman(D-Bethel): “Under both scenarios, it doesn’t matter after FY18, we do not have any money left out of the $15+ billion that we had. $15 billion gone in 5 short years. People might say that we’ll probably get saved by the high price of oil. That’s not going to happen.”
Senator Anna MacKinnon said her finance committee cares about education, contrary to some claims, but deep cuts must be made this year…
Senator Anna MacKinnon(R-Eagle River): “In all practicality, if we can’t control the budget this year, what hope is there for next year? and if that’s the case, we truly are burning the wood on our lifeboats.”
The House must still agree to the Senate’s cuts for them to pass.
