2018-01-16                     House Journal                      Page 2183
reached. This protects persons working at multiple jobs, as well as                                                             
high wage earners.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
This bill also provides provisions for payment of taxes, determination                                                          
of a taxable year, refund of overpayments, reporting of payments to                                                             
self-employed individuals, and other provisions for efficient                                                                   
administration of the tax.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
The bill would establish an Alaska economic recovery tax account in                                                             
the general fund so that tax revenues received can be accounted for in                                                          
the tax receipts account; this is in addition to amounts the Legislature                                                        
may wish to appropriate to the account. The bill provides that the                                                              
Legislature may appropriate to capital projects from the economic                                                               
recovery tax account; the tax account is not a dedicated fund, but a                                                            
way to better track tax receipts and spending on capital projects.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
The tax would be in effect from January 1, 2019, to July 1, 2021. This                                                          
short period would allow time for the State to receive revenues                                                                 
sufficient to meet critical State needs and avoid falling further into                                                          
debt and facility disrepair. I will continue to work with you to develop                                                        
a stable fiscal plan to carry us into the future.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
This tax is a simple and efficient measure to address our state's budget                                                        
shortfall. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Bill Walker                                                                                                                     
Governor"                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
HB 282                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 282 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
         "An Act making appropriations, including capital                                                                       
         appropriations, and other appropriations; and providing for an                                                         
         effective date."                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.