Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska 52 state employees

Governor Bill Walker's hiring freeze doesn't apparently apply to his new fleet of tax accountants and collectors.

Senate Bill 134, (HB 182) by request of the governor, would impose an income tax each year (or fraction of a year) on all residents and nonresidents of Alaska who work for a living. That tax? 6 percent of your total federal income tax.

The cost of tax collection is not insubstantial. The governor's plan adds 44 full-time, and 16 part-time accountants, auditors, tax collector, and other highly paid positions to the Alaska Department of Revenue.

In a quick reversal of his own policy, Walker's bill was filed just two weeks after he declared a state hiring freeze.

Governor Walker's income tax is expected to raise $200 million.

The Tax Division, run by Juneau Democratic political operative Ken Alper, will increase by 45 percent to process an expected 400,000 tax returns that the state is targeting for 2018.

Among items to be taxed: Your dead relative's estate. Any estate that is left to you that is owned by someone who lived outside of Alaska at the time of their death will be taxed.

http://www.alaskagop.org/governor_wants_to_add_52_state_employees_to_collect_income_taxes

A State income tax based on a percentage of Federal income tax only widens the loopholes so those that now escape Federal tax would also escape State tax.

An income tax is not needed to begin with!

This Governor again fails to impress me.

Any info on what it will cost to collect 200M?

I'm guessing 52 X $100,000 = $5.2 Million

State employees cost way more than $100k a year when you factor in the benefits.

I would bet the top of the slug heap would run 250k or so and the bottom would be in the range of 75k before benefits... guessing they would average over 150...

Right from the new hiring guidelines that were recently provided: "revenue generating and revenue collections positions, such that the failure to hire would result in a net reduction in revenue to the State of Alaska" are exempt from the freeze.

Ok so call it $7.8 million

Pretty much my thinking, not to mention you have to provide them offices, computers, vehicles, travel expenses, etc.,

What could possibly be wrong with an administration that includes a SeaAlaska land grabbing POS?

And state taxes are write-offs against your Federal Tax, no?

Let's say 150k per employee. $200M/.15Mx52 yields a benefit/cost ratio of 25.6. Most would say that's a pretty good return on investment.

Getting rid of all State employees who handle PFD applications and cut checks is even better.

Except that assumes they will collect it and not hire a bunch of employees beyond the initial 52. It says nothing about the cost of training, office space, postage, printing, office machines, and perks.

I think the benefit/cost analysis would show the PF a better fishing hole...

It's not the cost of the employees, its the cost to the state as once the camel get's its nose under the tent of income tax, there will be even less of an incentive for the government to cut spending.

The state has a spending problem, plane and simple. The permanent fund should be used as intended to fund government, and the state should look at ways to make the oil and gas industry grown when it rebounds.

It has no bearing on the fact the state.gov will piss it away.

https://www.elections.alaska.gov/pbi_rc_gi.php

The fact that we would even consider a tax on a working Alaskans income while handing out the PFD checks to everyone with a heartbeat tells me all I need to know about walker. Trouble is it has become political suicide to even talk about the pfd.

I absolutely agree, but a little talk of sales tax and income tax should get people thinking...

That it will....and is!

In Walker's defense, I don't envy his position - whatever he does is going to piss off at least one group.

That being said, how could this possibly be considered the right course of action unless you are a socialist?

I gotta' agree with Hammond. If the state's spending oil revenues, people grump but don't really get serious about it. When they start spending income tax dollars there will be a whole 'nother level of scrutiny.

Very good point.

open the tax faucet on individuals and enterprise , waste the revenue and let future generations suffer the consequences ,they don't care , they will all be living large on the fortunes they made as a result of being a civil "servant". Sad really. Lets run this state into the ground , hell they've done it to our nation why not this state too. If Bernie doesn't win maybe he could come up here and be our next governor.

Correct on many points; however, I don't see our governor giving a tinker's dam about his tenure in office. What he pulled with his election and choosing the partner we have as light gov. sorta tells me this...

Being from NY I can assure you that once the tax flood gates are open, those 52 employees will quickly become thousands......it's a bottomless cesspool.

Welcome to the jungle and the lower 48.

You had a long run...

Like minnisota; they started electing democrats and it turned to chit.

You can read sign, Sir.

I remember that being an argument against repealing the state income tax. It was in effect removing a citizens reason and ability to complain about expenditures. It's not *tax* dollars being wasted.

Of course in those days the state spent like a drunk sailor in a whorehouse with a stolen credit card.

You have a problem that only you can fix.

You're upset the people of Alaska voted in a democrat governor. Blame yourself and your neighbor.

Federal funding is getting cut and it sounds like your governor is finding ways to pay for services you enjoy... snow plows, snow plow drivers, roads, emergency services, welfare, drug rehab & alcoholic rehab, subsidized hospitals, paying doctor school loans so you have health care.

You're paying for what you use so suck it up and take care of yourselves. Or go out and live off the grid and stay off the internet at the same time.

If you're so upset about democrats... Blame your girl for blowing it for McCain. She didn't even stay full term as Governor so your people voted in a democrat. Apparently this guy has balls to make changes and not quit.

Good luck with your new taxes.

Anything else you do not know about Alaska that you feel a need to explain to us poor ignorant hicks?

Goofy bastard must have fell out of his tree stand.

Nope. Your guy made a sarcastic comment about Minnesota and couldn't even spell it right. You have your opinions and he doesn't know anything about my state.

Alaska is what you see on all those TV shows that romanticize it and Alaska State Troopers where they show alcoholics and druggies driving around being stupid.

It sucks you have to start paying taxes now, but welcome to being part of the united states. You have to pay for those soldiers that keep us free and keep Russia from invading you. Oil revenue is dropping so you can't depend on the lower 48 to keep you funded like the past... sounds strangely like...

"Minesota , not even worth spelling right"...There is your new state slogan...

your a special kind of stupid ain't ya Any relation to Al Franken?

Wtf you get into grandpas cough medicine we pay federal taxes you dumb ass.. We also pay a pretty heft property taxes as well.. A lot of cities also have a sales tax..

Hummer will be stamping that into license plates soon!

Ah.. you guys are whining about your oil welfare money running out and having to pay for your own services....

I thought you were a bunch of self reliant tough individuals that get by with no one else's help.

Maybe you should tax the Kilchers and Alaska Bush People and get Sarah another show to help fund your life style.

Sarah can save you. She can see Russia from her door step and she reads all the papers and is up on things.

"It sucks you have to start paying taxes now, but welcome to being part of the united states. You have to pay for those soldiers that keep us free and keep Russia from invading you. Oil revenue is dropping so you can't depend on the lower 48 to keep you funded like the past... sounds strangely like... "

Wait a minute we don't pay federal income tax? Holy [bleep] Ive been sending the IRS money for no reason? Maybe they should start making reality TV in Minesota , This week on land of 10,000 idiots.... ice fishing in August.

You alaka guys are real sensitive aren't you.

You're whining that you may have to pay taxes to pay for your schools and snow plows, your oil money is running low, and you have a governor is more concerned about funding the state than getting re-elected.

You may think you're isolated up there, but Walker and your legislative system (people that you voted in) has found a way to fund the services that you use. I think you're politicians got smart and looked at how the other states fund themselves.

Paying taxes suck and you're getting a bunch of new ones similar to other states. Other states didn't have oil money to carry them so it was just a matter of time before the bubble burst.

Good luck. Get out and vote if you want to change things.
In summation...

Your loss of Alaka oil money has made my North Dakota oil money all the sweeter.

And your dumb Sarah ruined it for all of us and we could have had McCain in there.

That's my biggest concern. And I think it also speaks to why we're having trouble cutting things. Certainly there are plenty of ways yet that cuts can be made. The trouble is that people have a hard time with the belt tightening.

Alaska's population has grown tremendously in the past 30 years. Alaska can't support the population it presently has. Perhaps we need to start exporting some of the more recent immigrants?

Wow, excuse me for thinking you were just being cocky about Minnesota. You raised the bar on just about every possible level of stupid.

Suggesting Sarah lost the election for McLame is beyond naïve. Using Tina Fey's lines against her is sad because it shows you are just a parrot for the MSM and come up short cognitively.

The fact you know nothing of where the federal money goes here shows you are again willing to rant about things you know nothing about.

My real estate taxes seem to show a big number for schools... and cops... and firemen...

Too bad they do not have a show on Minnesota violators. They would have almost 25,000 more DUIs to choose from in MN... and then they could go to Murderapolis to file in the gaps in the show... and all the while you are living there to avoid going outdoors and actually doing something.

I grew up in MN....about 150 miles north of Mogadishu....the commies and socialists drove me out 45 years ago and I'm a Swede...WTH?

MN doesn't have Democrats....they are DFLers.....Democratic Farmer Labor party....hammer and sickle stuff....the MN Socialist Party was broke after WWII so they teamed up with Demos and formed DFL party.

Now they have a budget surplus and Dayton [Target Stores family] won't give it back to the folks that got over-taxed as he has plans to help refugees or some such.

Ah, the rest of the story as Paul Harvey used to say.

Wow... this thread went full retard.

Continuing on, for the grownups in the room...

I agree in theory, and wish that were the case in reality. However, IME the level of scrutiny remains pretty low. People are pissed off that they are paying for things they don't agree with, but they rarely do anything about it. The spending cannot decrease due to political obligations - its just one of the problems of representative government. There is always a compelling enough reason to get small increases approved, but the reasons never go away and neither do the increased taxes.

Wow... it took a lot of cheap shots at your girl before one of you defended her. Either you agree or one of you happened to look up from your Nailin Palin video long enough to whine.

I'm just giving you guys grief about this because you are so sensitive and wound up that your state is now wanting income taxes and estate taxes. Thats stuff we've had to endure down here for a long time.

Would it make you feel better if I worded my first response like this???

My condolences from the land of 10,000 Taxes. You had a long run before the politicians started to tax you. It sucks to be you and welcome to over taxed pity party. Once again... sorry.

For a state that relies heavily on tourism it makes no sense to institute an income tax before having a sales tax.

And makes no sense to do either until everything wasteful in the budget that could be, and should be, cut, gets cut.

5.2 million investment on 200 million revenue!

Any hardcore republican businessman would take that deal all day. That's a great ROI when you adjust the figures.

Bingo on the ROI

Now that is a statement right out of the democrat "tax the rich" 99 percenter handbook.

If that was the only investment for the return it would be great, but the additional expenses are far higher and come with huge risk due to the high probability that number would grow.

And you are still an azzhat from a totally screwed state.

As pointed out by someone else, a 25.6 ratio is huge and your government would have to really be screw ups to ruin something with that much potential.

Maybe thats why your so whiny about adding government when you fear they'll blow the wad when the potential for return is sooo high.

Your government must have as much drama and chaos as your reality shows.

Return on investment? How the f@&! is hiring more government employees to tax us an investment? They do not create wealth, they add to the burden on the system.

The pitiful thing is, that mentality is what runs through DC, every state capital, municipality/county/parish and city in this country.

Reading comprehension is a gift...

...that some never receive.

...only obviously...

Speaking of jobs.......

Received today; from:



So, the state is required to send proof to former employees that they hold coverage, and they send a notice ahead of time, presumably because many of us have no real clue how this is supposed to work. And I would guess that there might be a couple extra people needed or extra assignments are given to those already employed. I wonder who pays for this extra paperwork and correspondence? (Thanks, O! More jobs, ready...... without shovels.)

Absolutely! Keeping the PFD while instituting a income tax is the kind of bait that'll keep the slugs around. Does this have to be voted on or can the king just make the proclamation and thine will is done?

In time of need, I do approve of added taxation. However, senseless squandering does not equate to need!
Last June, State employees received notice of layoffs and or terminations, if Legislatures could not agree upon a budget increase, by the first of July. Walker got his increase by the end if June. Immediately after wards, many state supervisors got new vehicles, weather they needed them or not, and most didn't! Many state offices were immediately given all new equipment, weather they need or not, many didn't need! Much new equiptment was bought, that was not needed!
For the state to possible think that their DOT mechanics are more financially feasible then private contractors is laughable!
Sadly, our state has the same attitude that many of us forearms owners have---NEED has nothing to do with anything!
Twink

We can only hope Walker is a single term gov...

"Wifey" received the same thing. Had the same questions and wondered who "deserves" the thanks for that bovine scat...for all of 1/1000 of a second. What I said was not quite so nice as your rendition

...at most.

I like the way you think...











On this issue!

Well, not suggesting foul play. Rather that he could once again don a hard hat and climb aboard a loader.

Well, its not only a tax on Alaskans. What I like about it is that it finally taxes all the out of state guides, commercial fisherman and oil field workers who take Alaskas resources but don't pay their share of sales or property taxes. But no I don't like an additional tax but oil prices have tanked and Alaska needs the revenue after they cut the state budget and state workers probably by half....

No way are they going to cut the budget any significant amount. It would take some cutting, but million dollar budgets for bush high school basketball teams need to go.

Indeed, it would be nice if the state did cut it's budget, and layed off excessive, unnecessary employees, However, I have not seen such in my area!

Why? It's not like the budget shortfall is of Walker's making, and the fact is that no one is going to solve it without both new taxes and spending cuts. But cuts alone won't get us to a viable State budget.

We are far in excess of a "Viable State Budget"......Alaska's free chit programs are so lucrative that we have people moving from the far corners of the earth to take advantage of it.

But budgets are only part of the problem as I witness much abuse of our wildlife regulations by immigrants.

so alaska is catching up with most of the US then?

Why? What has he done so far that you liked?

Expanded Medicare?
Backing the SeaAlaska Land Grab?
Not even looking at meaningful cuts in the budget?

There were zero expectations when he took office that Alaska was somehow magically dodging the oil price dive and the production dive... so why doesn't he offer something of real substance in the way of cuts?

Bingo!

So you have a lot of welfare programs that attract a lot of low skilled people to do the crap jobs like working fish cannery jobs, etc and then subsidize them... Just like Minnesota.

Then a hardy "welcome to the jungle with the rest of us.. and it sucks to be you"

and as far as abuse about the wildlife resource abuse...
"Welcome to the jungle...

But I am sure you native alaskans... the ones with white skin and not dark(???) can go on a terrorist rampage to discourage all the tv shows and tourism brochures that make life up there look so good.


Good luck and welcome to the taxation jungle.

Why do you care so much about what happens in AK? Why are you so angry/happy about it? Why mention Natives and terrorist in your reply? WTF is wrong with whomever writes your prescriptions? Your dosage is obviously way off.

SWING!!!!

And another miss!

If you actually knew what the adults were talking about you might be able to add value...

Consider Old Believers, Samoan gangs, Hmong, and the PFD.

Oh, it is not the tourism brochures or the reality show that make this a great place to live... it just is...

And I think some of those immigrants that Vern is talking about have some pretty white skin.

I think it will be upwards of $10.52M the first year. The next year there will be over 100 employed by that division. Nothing grows like government bureaucracy. Bacteria blush, mushrooms just shake their caps.

I look up here in this forum to check out the adventurous life in Alaska and I see you whining state government as a bunch of old cheap farmers that dont want to pay for nothing, but you want your roads plowed and your schools funded with a mix of Federal, state, and local taxes.

I really don't care, but its entertaining to poke you once in a while and come back in a week and still see people whining on the same topic.

The whining is so petty that you're complaining about a federal mandated tax mailing to state employees and how much it cost...

I hope the YOUR government that YOU voted in sends you a Hallmark card to every registered voter and tax payer saying "congrats on your new state income tax".

I'm pretty sure this page from "My Life as a Miserable Bastard" is not something you intended to publish on a public forum. For that you have my sympathies. If it weren't an accident, then you have not only my sympathies, but condolences as well on the loss of your soul and mind.

Still mouthing off but not even willing to try to buy a clue...

You fellers are being mean to the maroon.

He would fit into our Legislature quite well it seems.

Yup, Hell bent on taxes and deaf...