Having spent four hours listening to former Institute for Social and Economic Research director Gunnar Knapp provide data about Alaska, I learned: 1. With the decline in oil revenue, Alaska’s fiscal problems aren’t going away anytime soon; 2. About 20% of Alaska’s workers are non-residents — in some industries it’s closer to 70%; and 3. Around 15% of wages earned in Alaska go to non-residents. We need new revenue streams; overlooking the potential contributions of individuals who take their earnings back to their home states instead of engaging in Alaska’s economy is a miss.
Next, based on sales of similar housing in recent months, the value of my home in Old Turnagain has fallen by more than 10%. At the same time, the value of a condo I own in Boston, Massachusetts rose by more than 10%. In Boston, I pay property tax, income tax and a sales tax.
Finally, I’ve witnessed a significant increase in the number of people camping along our greenbelts. As someone who has chosen to retire here — contributing to the economy, and investing in the community through volunteerism and civic engagement — this troubles me.
Bottom line: Having a community that supports needed services makes for a better life for everyone in the long run. Let’s get back to the Alaska that we all want and need.
— Cindy Gilder
Anchorage
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