RH 101 - 5:15 p.m.

Panel Speakers:
Brock Wilson, Spencer Perry

Moderator: Kevin Berry

Description: The State of Alaska faces persistent budget challenges resulting from declining oil prices and production. Because current major revenue sources—petroleum and the Permanent Fund (POMV)—are not explicitly tied to internal economic activity, there is an "Alaska disconnect" between state growth and public revenue. In this session, ISER researchers present their work evaluating options to address these budget issues. These include changes to state spending, broad based taxes, and businesses taxes. They will address potential impacts of these options on Alaska’s economy and people both in the short and long run, such as changes in the number of jobs, income, and the state’s value-added activities.

RH 211 - 5:15 p.m.

Panel Speakers:
Hannah Hennighausen, Graham Downey, Emily Schwing, Terry Fields

Moderator: Terry Fields

Description: Alaska has a housing crisis. Across the state, communities lack sufficient supplies of housing, with rural communities experiencing some of the highest rates of overcrowding in the US. Moreover, in many parts of the state, the existing supply is dilapidated and in need of repair or replacement. Adding to the issues around access to housing is the affordability crisis; rents in many places are disproportionately high given salaries, and utility costs are also among the highest in the nation. And construction costs in Alaska are extremely high and rapidly increasing. The housing crisis affects the state in many ways, from making it harder to retain residents and attract new employees, to the visible population of unhoused persons affecting commerce and tourism in downtown Anchorage. This panel will address some of the challenges around housing in Alaska, and also share some initiatives to address this crisis.

RH 117 - 5:15 p.m.

Panel Speakers:
Bob Loeffler, Taylor Holshouser, Jon Bittner

Moderator: Ian Hartman

Description: Non-renewable resources like oil and minerals have a finite lifespan, and while new oil discoveries and shortages due to geopolitical conflict have extended the life of Alaska’s oil and gas industries and pipeline, the decline of the oil industry is inevitable. Climate change is also threatening Alaska’s fishing and timber industries, even as it opens new opportunities for accessing resources. And, given our export of most raw materials, Alaska has few value-added industries such as manufacturing, and a very small knowledge economy. On the other hand, this means that Alaska may be full of opportunities for those willing to pursue ventures that fill this gap. In this session, panelists will discuss opportunities for as well as barriers to more economic diversification in Alaska. They bring perspectives from the business development sector, the mining industry, the fishing industry, and more.

RH 316 - 5:15 p.m.

Panel Speakers:
Dayna DeFeo, Kelly Lessens, Amie Collins

Moderator: Dean Tonia Dousay

Description: Public education is a critical function of state governments. In Alaska, issues affecting early childhood, primary, and secondary education, from how much to invest in public schools to how to better attract and retain educators to what school choice should look like have been hotly debated in recent years. This panel brings together scholars, advocates, and policymakers to discuss these issues and more.

RH 110 - 5:15 p.m.

Panel Speakers:
Alaska Native Professional Association (ANPA)

Moderator: Zach Dunlap

RH 101 - 6:15 p.m.

Panel Speakers:
James Brooks, Ivan Moore, Jennifer Johnston

Moderator: Diane Hirshberg

It’s been eight years since Alaska elected a new governor, and the race to fill the position has been full of twists and surprises. The post-primary shuffling among the top vote-getters, the disqualification and reinstatement of candidates, and the debates around campaign finance and ranked choice voting have many wondering what’s next as we head toward November. This panel will explore what’s been happening and where we are headed in the governor’s race from the perspectives of a political journalist, a public pollster, and a former state elected official.