Legislative priorities for 2017.

• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: Legislative Priorities

The 30th Alaska State Legislature convened on January 17. We've compiled legislative priorities from several Alaska industry organizations to share with readers. We encourage all to take an active part in this session by letting legislators and the governor know what's on your mind.

It's easy to contact them all. Here's a link to a PDF of everyone's phone number, along with easy instructions for email addresses: http://akleg.gov/docs/pdf/800numbers.pdf. Also, directly email Governor Bill Walker at governor@alaska.gov or telephone his office in Juneau, 907-465-3500; Anchorage, 907-269-7450; or Fairbanks, 907-451-2920. Email Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott at ltgov@alaska.gov or call his office at 907-465-3520.

The top priority for most organizations this year regards the budget, which comes as no surprise. Some organizations have a brief list and others have more lengthy ones. We've only listed the top few priorities for each organization, but readers can find the full lists of priorities and policy positions on each organization's website.

Resource Development Council for Alaska

Advocate to limit unrestricted general fund (UGF) * spending to sustainable level of $4.1 billion or less.

* UGF includes: Operating budget, capital budget, statewide obligations, but does not include deferral of liabilities.

Advocate for tax policy and regulatory stability that enhances the State of Alaska's competitiveness for all industries to attract new investment and grow the economy.

Alaska budget policy should focus first on reversing the unsustainable budget by finding efficiencies and focusing on a series of annual reductions. It must include framework to use the Permanent Fund earnings to support essential services. Finally, after reducing the UGF to sustainable levels, additional, broad-based revenue options should be considered.

The Alaska Support Industry Alliance

Lay the foundation for a sustainable long-range fiscal plan:

* Limit FY 2018 unrestricted general fund (UGF) spending to $4.0 billion or less, and implement a plan to use a portion of the earnings generated by the Permanent Fund for essential government services.

* Oil: DO NO HARM. Maintain or implement policies that increase production, attract investment, and encourage exploration and development.

* Gas: Continue to progress a viable LNG project.

* Mining: Maintain permitting and tax systems that attract investment.

* Infrastructure: Invest in necessary infrastructure that makes exploration, development, and production of our natural resources competitive with other jurisdictions.

Alaska Chamber of Commerce

Support reduction of spending to sustainable levels. The Alaska Chamber supports reductions to UGF Spending to $4.5 billion or less by FY 2018.

Support a series of annual reductions in the state operating budget and the creation of an endowment/sustainability model or similar framework to use Permanent Fund earnings to support essential state services and protect the PFD Program.

Oppose a natural gas reserves tax.

Anchorage Chamber of Commerce

Develop and Implement a Sustainable Fiscal Plan: The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce strongly encourages the governor and the legislature to take immediate action to implement a sustainable, long-term solution to address Alaska's fiscal challenges.

Reduce the Budget: The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce members highly support a significant reduction in the state budget.

Consider New, Broad-Based, Sustainable Revenue Sources: The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce members support a statewide sales tax, the creation of a statewide lottery, and some use of the Permanent Fund earnings.

Provide Funding for Alaska's Most Strategic Port: The Port of Anchorage, Alaska largest port, annually handles 3.5 million tons of goods bound for over 200 communities across our state.

Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce

1 Priority: Support a comprehensive, long-term sustainable fiscal plan for the State of Alaska

Additional Priority: Advocate for the stated goals of the Interior Energy Project.

Alaska Municipal League

The Alaska Municipal League supports a Legislative adoption of a sustainable budget plan that does not rely primarily on cuts but on new sources of revenues. We feel that the leaders of our State must immediately adopt changes that stop the bleeding that we are currently experiencing. Despite the cuts experienced this last year by local governments, municipalities must continue to provide basic and...