A new website unveiled by a special committee in the Alaska State Legislature hopes to educate Alaskans about the state's budget, particularly how much oil revenues play a part in it, and how money is invested.
The site, put together by a state house special committee on fiscal policy was announced on Wednesday.
In a statement, Rep. Anna Fairclough (R-Eagle River), the chair of the special committee said it's important that Alaskans know where the state's money comes from and how its invested, given the volatile price of oil, declining oil revenue and projections of state budget deficits in the future.
The website features several different slide shows and a YouTube video meant to illustrate the fiscal challenges facing the state.
If oil tax profits continue to decline, the website says the state will have to consider other options such as cutting spending, encouraging more oil production, or even instituting a state income tax or getting rid of Alaska's permanent fund dividends.
Sen. Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage) says the site amounts to nothing more than a scare tactic, and that the $70,000 price tag for the website is too much. He said the website depicted a "doomsday scenario."
Information Insights, a local consulting firm, helped put together the website.
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