Petersburg Pilot -

Alaskans appear to be engaged about the fiscal precariousness of our state unlike in past financial meltdowns.

Perhaps it's because of the massive scale of the budget deficit the state faces in the next fiscal year, which starts June 1. How big is it? An estimated $4 billion as of today, if the Legislature doesn't act either on Gov. Bill Walker's proposals or something comparable of its own making. Alaska has enough money in its savings accounts _ not counting the principal of the Alaska Permanent Fund _ to cover the gap, but the money in those various accounts will run out in about two or...