 This Week State Says At Current prices Corporate Profits Exceed State Oil Revenue By $1.9 Billion. by Representative Les Gara March 20, 2004
If prices averaged $36.68/barrel, oil company profits from North Slope Crude oil would soar to approximately $4.5 billion/year. That amount in profits would dwarf the amount the State of Alaska receives in total revenue for North Slope oil. Corporate profits would exceed state revenue for the state's oil by $1.9 billion. "Alaska's oil tax structure is far off balance," said Rep. Les Gara. Six Democrats have proposed changes in Alaska's oil tax structure to require that the state receive a fair share for its oil. "I support this legislation because I believe it is fair fair to the state and fair to industry," said Sen. Hollis French, sponsor of SB 221. HB 441 and SB 221 would modestly raise taxes at high prices, and reduce taxes at low prices. Today, no matter how high oil prices go, 150,000 barrels of oil will leave the state paying effectively a 0% Production Tax. A more detailed explanation of these bills is attached. In addition to Rep. Gara and Sen. French, sponsors of these bills are Democrats Lyman Hoffman, Kim Elton, David Guttenberg, Beth Kerttula and Eric Croft. While the bills would result in a fair share for Alaska oil, they also contain protections for oil companies that produce marginal fields. The bills leave in place Alaska's "Royalty Relief" law, which reduces the state's 12.5% Royalty Oil share if a producer can show a field needs tax breaks to be produced.
Note: Representative Les Gara (D) is a member of the Alaska Legislature representing House District 23 - Anchorage... and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.
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