Dear Alaska Policy Maker:

The Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc. (RDC) is writing to share our 2017 Policy Positions.

RDC is a statewide business association comprised of individuals and companies from Alaska’s oil and gas, mining, forest products, tourism and fisheries industries. RDC’s membership includes Alaska Native Corporations, local communities, organized labor, and industry support firms. RDC’s purpose is to encourage a strong, diversified private sector in Alaska and expand the state’s economic base through the responsible development of our natural resources.

For 2017, RDC has only two legislative priorities:

• Advocate to limit unrestricted general fund (UGF)* spending to a 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’s 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.

For your convenience, a copy of this information is enclosed and can be found online. In addition, RDC will update our Fiscal Page (akrdc.org/fiscal-crisis) with pertinent information over the course of this legislative session.

We appreciate efforts made by you and many others to achieve a long-term, sustainable fiscal plan. We believe Alaskans, like ourselves, will be best served with a sustainable budget, first and foremost. In January, over half of RDC’s 78 member, statewide board travelled to Juneau to express our concerns for the Alaskan economy. The RDC board, as well as our hundreds of member companies, are deeply troubled with the state’s fiscal situation and the uncertainty it has created.

Achieving a long-term, sustainable fiscal plan requires prudent use of earnings from state investments, and increasing private sector investment in our natural resource industries – rather than chasing away investment dollars through an ongoing series of increasing taxes and fees, growing regulatory burdens, and associated actions and policies which make us less competitive for global investment.

Again, RDC appreciates your service, and we look forward to working with the Administration and Legislature to find solutions for Alaska’s future. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.