The U.S. economy is strong. People are working and businesses are profiting. Nice for the states that are doing good things for their residents, businesses and communities with the additional tax dollars.<\/p>\n
Alaskans should note that some states are boosting spending to deal with rising sea levels caused by climate change.<\/p>\n
Florida’s new Republican governor has proposed investing $2.5 billion to protect the Everglades. Louisiana’s Democratic governor wants to spend $55 million in state surplus revenues and about $300 million in oil royalty revenues for coastal and levee improvements.<\/p>\n
On a broader front, the strong economy is helping states tackle long-term problems, including education funding.<\/p>\n
West Virginia’s Republican governor has proposed using $150 million in surplus revenues to stabilize the state’s public employee health insurance program, which is stressing under rising medical costs. He also proposes a pay raise for teachers.<\/p>\n
[Opinion: Pulp fiction won’t grow the economy]<\/a><\/ins><\/p>\n “You had a state that was in real trouble,” Gov. Jim Justice was quoted in The Wall Street Journal on Feb. 1. “Today, the numbers are phenomenal,” he said of the improving economy that has boosted West Virginia sales and income tax revenues by 14 percent in the first six months of the fiscal year.<\/p>\n Republican governors in Mississippi and Idaho want to use healthier tax revenues to boost teacher salaries.<\/p>\n Combined tax revenues for all 50 states grew 7 percent last year, compared to the previous year, according to S&P Global Ratings.<\/p>\n [Economy to take a hit, no matter the budget outcome]<\/a><\/ins><\/p>\n Washington state sales tax revenues, which are up significantly in a growing economy, provide about half of the state’s total tax dollars. The Democratic governor has proposed spending $1.1 billion for orca recovery and salmon-habitat preservation, intended to benefit the state’s ecosystem and improve water quality.<\/p>\n The list continues of other states and how their residents are benefitting from strong economies and diversified income streams for the public good.<\/p>\n Alas, we have but two streams in Alaska — one stream we cannot control, and one we bicker over incessantly. The actual Alaska economy adds only a trickle to that flow.<\/p>\n