Residents interested in hearing both sides of the Senate Bill 21 debate, also known as Proposition 1, can attend a forum noon Friday at the Chilkat Center lobby.
Proposition 1, which Alaska residents will vote on in November, seeks to repeal SB21, also called the Oil and Gas Production Tax. The Alaska Legislature passed the bill granting tax breaks to oil companies in 2013.
Vote “yes” supporters say SB21 has cost Alaskans up to $2 billion annually in income from the oil industry, and cite reductions in state spending as among the effects of the change.
Opponents of the proposition say the $2 billion number is inflated, and that reduced tax rates were necessary and have stimulated oil exploration and development in Alaska.
Lindsey Spinelli, who currently works as an account manager for Anchorage-based Porcaro Communications, will be speaking against the proposition.
State Sen. Hollis French, whose district encompasses portions of Anchorage, will present arguments in favor of the proposition. Hollis is also running for lieutenant governor.
State Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, D-Sitka, and state Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, who represent Haines in the Alaska Legislature, both have publicly opposed SB21 and support its repeal.
The forum is sponsored by the Haines Chamber of Commerce.