Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Monday introduced a proposal that would allow Alaska’s private businesses to reduce their state income tax liability in exchange for providing their employees assistance in paying for child care, energy bills, housing and food.the state more than $260 million per year in lost revenue, according to an assessment by the Department of Revenue.
Under the bill, corporations like ConocoPhillips or Walmart could gain tax credits by spending money in four categories: employer-provided child care or qualified child care expenses paid by the employee and reimbursed by the taxpayer; residential heating or electricity utility costs; residential mortgage rates or constructing energy efficient residential housing; or “food security and affordability.
Several lawmakers asked about the bill Monday said they had not seen it before it was first introduced in the Senate, and had yet to form an opinion about it.