Comment Letter:
Support of HB110 - Bruce Harland

March 24th Via email

Representative Doogan:

I know that I am probably wasting my time asking you to reconsider your decision about revamping the tax system on oil development, but you will find it extremely difficult to go to the well for your favorite projects with zero oil dollars in the state coffers. The pipeline has a limited life and when the oil stops flowing life in Alaska will change dramatically. All of the schools and infrastructure projects in rural Alaska will be severely curtailed. Our kids will leave the state for better opportunities and career potential that will not be available here. The real opportunity to invest the oil royalties in roads and infrastructure to diversify our economy will be lost. That is the dangerous game we are playing with our future. We are in ever increasing competition against other development projects without some of the challenges that companies face when working in Alaska. The high cost of development here has to be a factor in our decision about levels of taxation. I teach my children that sometimes you have to suffer short term pain for long term gain. I believe that is the case here. It would be a healthy exercise for Alaska to tighten our belts now to create an investment climate in Alaska that will provide a steady income stream from oil royalties well into the future.

Bruce Harland
Anchorage

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