Administration looking at how to proceed on cruise bill

JUNEAU — A deputy state Revenue commissioner says members of Gov. Bill Walker’s administration are discussing how to proceed with Walker’s cruise ship passenger tax bill.

Questions were raised last year about how and whether the tax money was being spent, prompting a legislative audit.

Given some of the testimony, deputy Revenue commissioner Jerry Burnett had said that the administration told committees it was OK to wait for the audit before hearing the bill.

The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee is expected to hear preliminary audit findings in executive session Friday. The audit process will not be complete until after the administration has an opportunity to respond.

Committee vice-chair Anna MacKinnon said other legislators can attend the executive session.

The Alaska Cruise Association also cited potential legal issues with the tax bill.

More in News

(Juneau E
Aurora forecast for the week of Nov. 27

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Friday, Dec. 8, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Emma Pokon, commissioner-designee of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, discusses wood stove pollution regulations affecting the Fairbanks-North Star Borough during a Nov. 26 forum. (Screenshot from video by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation)
Newly designated state DEC commissioner strong supporter of Dunleavy’s challenge to federal authority

Emma Pokon, as state attorney, wrote legislation eliminating independent cruise monitoring program.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Photo by Valeriya / Getty Images Plus)
Negotiations to decide insurance status of Alaska patients of Providence affiliates

Three health care provider groups with Alaska’s largest hospital have notified the… Continue reading

Harborview Elementary School was briefly evacuated Friday after a bomb threat was received at midday, according to the Juneau Police Department. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Harborview Elementary School briefly evacuated after bomb threat

Police say incident appears connected to other threats at Alaska schools in recent months.

Michael Carter selects chips from a large box while Kalie Purkey wheels their 1-year-old daughter, Oaklynn Carter, along the row of tables at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank’s weekly food pantry on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
‘New normal’ is long waits for SNAP benefits and long lines at food pantries

Juneau residents cite variety of reasons for being part of backlog of more than 12,000 applicants.

Constantine president Peter Mercer descends from a helicopter after a tour of drilling sites in August. Mercer said drilling work will be similar in the next two or three years, as the company starts to transition to more economic, environmental,. and engineering analysis that will result in a full plan for how to access the ore, which the company is shooting to release in 2026. (Lex Treinen / Chilkat Valley News)
Constantine Mining president lays out timeline for Palmer Project work

Project north of Haines at least five years from decisions about mine development, executive says

Most Read