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Wednesday
December 04, 2013
Tongass Sunrise
Sunday's sunrise, six miles south of Ketchikan.
Front Page Photograph By ERIC FISCHER ©2013
(Please respect the rights of photographers, never republish or copy
without permission and/or payment of required fees.)
Alaska: State Receives $15.8 Billion in Tax Revenues In FY 2013; Reduction of $250 to $300 million - Department of Revenue (DOR) Commissioner Angela Rodell released the Fall 2013 Revenue Sources Book today. The annual publication provides basic information about state revenue, as well as the anticipated revenue over the next ten years.
The Department of Revenue reports that the State of Alaska received a total of $15.8 billion in FY 2013 from all sources. Of this total, General Fund unrestricted state revenues totaled $6.9 billion, with oil revenues accounting for approximately 92% of all unrestricted revenue. The department is now forecasting unrestricted revenue of $4.9 billion and $4.5 billion for FY 2014 and FY 2015, respectively.
“This is a significant revision to our unrestricted revenue from the previous forecast,” Commissioner Rodell said. “It is clear that the single-most influential contributor to the revision is a reduced oil price expectation. The elimination of progressivity and capital credits are roughly offset by the increased 35% base rate and new per-barrel credits under the More Alaska Production (MAP) Act. Alaska will see at forecasted prices a similar revenue stream between the current and previous oil tax systems.”
The revenue forecast is based on an Alaska North Slope (ANS) oil price of $105.68 per barrel for FY 2014 and $105.06 per barrel for FY 2015.
While North Slope oil production declined 8.2% in FY 2013, the department shows a 13.6% effective increase in production in Cook Inlet since last year. The Commissioner explained that "while we see longer, more extensive summer maintenance projects, increased use of natural gas liquids for reinjection and decreased production in legacy fields we also see the companies responding enthusiastically to the More Alaska Production Act and have increased our projections of industry investment on the North Slope by $10 billion over the next 10 years."
The Commissioner went on to say “Our department is pleased with the increase in investment that we are seeing on the North Slope. However, in the short-term this is another factor that contributes to reduced revenue.” - More...
Wednesday PM - December 04, 2013
Southeast Alaska: SE Alaskan father and son are running across America to bring attention to poisoning of the earth - What do you do when your 12-old son announces he’s going to run across America? Sitka residents Brett Wilcox and his wife, Kris, decided to change the subject and hope their son, David would forget about it.
Three years later he hadn’t forgotten. As a high school freshman, David became the regional cross-country champion and the fastest 3A freshman in Alaska. He regularly runs 15-milers in the local mountains and is pumped up to become the 2nd 15-year old to complete this transcontinental run. On January 18, 2014, David and his father Brett will begin their coast-to-coast run in Huntington Beach, California with Kris and their 13-year old daughter, Olivia, as their crew.
The reason for their run isn’t as simple as “because they can,” they have a purpose. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Brett Wilcox has spent his career helping people heal from the poison and pain they’ve endured at the hands of bullies and batterers. Now, he’s turning his attention to what he believes to be global bullies – bullies like the giant chemical companies that poison the Earth, our political processes and our agricultural system. Brett says, “It's time to stop these bullies!” He adds, “We’re running across America to say enough is enough. Poisoning our soil, waterways and air is wrong! Killing bees and butterflies is wrong! Poisoning our health is wrong!”
While they are on the road, they are going to visit farms and farmers and document their stories. They will be holding meetings, giving presentations, and talking to the media. Wilcox emphatically says, “We’re NOT going to tell people that they have a right to know what’s in their food. WE’RE GOING TO SHOW THEM WHY THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT’S IN THEIR FOOD. And, of course, we’re going to pay a visit to Monsanto at its headquarters in Saint Louis, Missouri. Then we’ll run to Washington D.C. to remind our nation’s leaders that they work for the American people, not for multi-national chemical corporations.” - More...
Wednesday PM - December 04, 2013
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Ketchikan: Coast Guard Tows Disabled Boat Near Ketchikan - The Coast Guard assisted three boaters aboard a disabled vessel about 12 miles west of Ketchikan, Tuesday.
A 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Coast Guard Station Ketchikan towed the disabled 27-foot commercial dive boat to Knudson Cove 10 miles northeast of Ketchikan.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Juneau received a call for assistance from the captain of the dive boat Lady Serena at 5:59 p.m. The watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast but did not receive any responses.
The Motor Life Boat crew was launched from Ketchikan to respond. All boaters were reportedly wearing immersion suits and had anchored the vessel to keep from running aground. The MLB crew conducted a post search and rescue boarding on the vessel and found the crew was in compliance with all applicable safety requirements. - More.
..Wednesday PM - December 04, 2013
Southeast Alaska: HAINES HEALTHCARE AND HOUSING PROJECT AWARDED - A Haines non-profit will receive a $400,000 grant and $99,900 challenge grant from the Rasmuson Foundation to help build the Haines Soboleff-McRae Veterans Village and Wellness Center.
The grants will go to Haines Assisted Living, Inc. (HAL), manager of the project that is constructing a new veterans housing complex and centralized non-profit center to provide wellness services to veterans and the broader community. They were among several awards given last week by Rasmuson to organizations throughout Alaska totaling nearly $10 million.
“This award is going to have an enduring impact in Haines,” says HAL President James Studley. “We see Rasmuson’s decision as encouraging endorsement of a project that is helping solve housing and healthcare issues in Haines.”
The 20,000 sq. ft. Veterans Village and Wellness Center has been under construction since Spring 2013 and is expected to be complete by Spring 2015. The first floor will hold seven offices for healthcare organizations that serve Southeast Alaska and the second floor has 11 housing units for veterans and their families. It is phase III of a $13 million project managed by HAL that includes an assisted living facility and independent senior housing apartments in Haines. - More...
Wednesday PM - December 04, 2013
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Alaska: Lower Unemployment Taxes in 2014 - Governor Sean Parnell announced this week that Alaskans will soon see a 22 percent reduction in unemployment insurance (UI) tax rates, a savings of $89 million. The reduction comes just months after the passage of the governor’s bill updating Alaska’s unemployment insurance system, allowing for suspension of increases when the Alaska UI Trust Fund is deemed solvent and removing limitations on decreases.
“Alaskans are now able to keep more of their hard-earned dollars,” Governor Parnell said. “The tax cut also reflects a strong economy with fewer unemployment claims, which is great news for Alaska.”
According a post on Governon Parnell's FaceBook page, "Alaskans will save $89 million this year in unnecessary taxes thanks in part to a reduction in unemployment insurance tax rates that I championed with the Legislature last session."
The average combined UI tax rate for calendar year 2014 is 2.59 percent compared to 2013’s 3.32 percent.
Alaska workers pay 27 percent of the average benefit costs, and employers pay 73 percent. For 2014, employers will pay an average of 1.97 percent up to the taxable wage base of $37,400, a decrease from 2013’s 2.64 percent. Workers will pay 0.62 percent, down from 0.68 percent. - More...
Wednesday PM - December 04, 2013
Alaska: State Board to Meet December 5-6 in Anchorage; Streaming Audio Available -
The Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development will hold a regularly scheduled meeting on December 5 starting at 8:00 a.m., and December 6 starting at 8:30 a.m.
The board will consider sending out for public comment proposed regulations regarding pupil transportation and the chart of accounts. The board will consider adopting regulations regarding district-operated residential schools, early literacy screening, and school recognition programs. - More...
Wednesday PM - December 04, 2013
Alaska: 480-Bed Shelter System Donated to Devastated Philippine City of Tacloban - Alaska Structures, Inc. (AKS) of Anchorage donated a 480-bed shelter system to the devastated area of Tacloban City to aid in the recovery efforts following Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Leyte Province of the Philippines.
The donation included: (24) 20' x 32.5' Alaska Small Shelter Systems with insulation, lighting and electrical systems, and re-usable transportation containers, along with (4) power distribution systems with diesel generators, and (24) Alaska 5-ton ECUs (ruggedized HVAC Systems), valued at more than $2 million US dollars. - More...
Wednesday PM - December 04, 2013 |
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 Rain Gauge Clarifications By Steve Corporon -
The following clarifications and additional facts are provided in response to the article in Sitnews titled "11 Things You Might Not Know About the Proposed New Rain Gauge".
Clarification No. 1: Funding for this project along with the description and justification for the project were in the 2013 Port budget as follows (word for word): "The current rain gauge sign on the Port is a one-sided sign mounted to the vent stack for the wastewater lift station located under Berth II. The vent stack abuts the current KVB Building; therefore, the back of the sign is not visible. The building will be removed in the fall of 2012 and a new KVB Building will be constructed approximately 30 feet away. The proposed replacement rain gauge sign will be a commissioned piece of public art that will surround the vent stack covering it on all sides. The Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council would assist in soliciting the call to artists and selection of the artist and piece for a 7% administrative fee. Funding would be from the Port Enterprise Fund but would be restricted to receipts from non-maritime related revenue such as rent monies from tour and food vendor leases." - More...
Saturday PM - November 30, 2013
Dock Bong By A. M. Johnson - To the "unwashed" who are offering disparaging remarks towards the efforts of rejuvenating the crude, weathered, simple rain gauge that has survived many years of weather torture. It is "Free Money", as such let us not "Bully" the Arts and Craft community with negativity. - More...
Saturday PM - November 30, 2013
One-sided Report On Timber Transition By Eric Muench -
The October 28 Sitnews article suggesting a quick and complete Forest Service transition to second growth timber harvest is misleading. The Geos Institute and Mater Ltd. report shows a lack of basic knowledge or concern about forest industry economics. - More...
Saturday PM - November 30, 2013
OPEN LETTER: FREE ENTERPRISE By David G. Hanger - As U.S. politicians and elected officials, I assume that all of you have had numerous opportunities to stand before large groups of individuals, business people and individual constituents both, and have extolled in elaborate detail the virtues of capitalism and free enterprise. Indeed, it would surprise me considerably if each of you has not repeatedly extolled the virtues of capitalism and free enterprise. The question of the moment, therefore, is why do your constituents, good U.S. citizens all, get so little of it; in fact are being terribly victimized by the crudest of monopolists this very moment? - More...
Saturday PM - November 30, 2013
Thanksgiving For Living in The Land of Opportunity By Dan Ortiz -
A day has passed since our national observance of Thanksgiving. I write this letter with heartfelt gratitude for the fact that my 55 years on this earth have been spent as a citizen of the United States and that the last 45 have been spent as a resident of Ketchikan and southern Southeast Alaska. I, like the majority in this country, have been blessed by abundant freedom and opportunity. Much of that opportunity originates from our founding fathers, who believed in the simple, but revolutionary concept of "government by the people for the people.” I still believe in that concept today. Ketchikan has been a wonderful place for me to grow up and a wonderful place for my wife Lori and I to raise our children. There is a very real sense of community in Ketchikan that is becoming more rare in our country as time progresses. Anyone who has experienced dealing with a family member’s major illness in Ketchikan can attest to the outpouring of love and support from people of all religious, social, economic and political backgrounds. - More..
Saturday PM - November 30, 2013
Al's Candidacy By Rod Landis -
Go for it, Al! - More...
Saturday - November 30, 2013
Medicaid expansion By John Suter -
The governor is not willing to go forward with the Medicaid expansion because it is not the program that he wants. We all know that the governor has done all that can be done to get the oil companies as much money as possible. - More...
Saturday PM - November 30, 2013
OUR COUNTRY! By Glen E Terrell -
This is OUR COUNTRY! We don’t have to accept the trash coming out of Washington DC that’s being presented to us as “the fruit of the government of the greatest nation on Earth.” The president’s approval rating is 37% and that of Congress is about 9%. Collectively those we have elected to govern us are unfit to do so. It’s time for “change that really matters.” - More...
Saturday PM - November 30, 2013
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