Alaska governor signs first tax increase in 10 years

JUNEAU (AP) — Alaska is facing the first tax increase in a decade after Governor Bill Walker signed the measure into law on Saturday morning.

The law places new taxes on wholesale refined fuel, including gasoline and heating oil but not aviation fuel or fuel used by the Alaska Marine Highway, the Juneau Empire reported.

The new tax will fund the oil spill prevention and response division of the Department of Environmental Conservation. The division is normally funded by oil revenue, but crude prices have declined and left a multimillion-dollar hole in its budget for the coming fiscal year.

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