Alaska's public sector is bleeding talent—firefighters, teachers, and troopers are turning the Last Frontier into a "resume builder," gaining top-tier experience before bolting for better pay and pensions elsewhere. Will a new pension plan finally fix Alaska's retention crisis, or is it a fiscal gamble? The numbers are brutal: Rep. Chuck Kopp highlighted how turnover is costing the state $160M annually in overtime and lost productivity alone. As Justin Mack of the Alaska professional firefighters association put it at our recent Pension Reform forum: "We train 'em, they take." Enter HB 78—a proposed defined benefit pension revival to stem the exodus. Dr. Brock Wilson of Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) shared data showing the 2006 DB-to-DC shift eroded teacher retention (50% to 33% after 9 years), but better pensions cut quits—citing a federal boost that slashed turnover by 25%. Rep. Will Stapp warns that if actuaries miss the mark on modeling (like they did last time, leaving us with a $7.2B unfunded liability we're still paying down), it'll saddle the next generation with our tab. "Better benefits cost more—let's get the math right." Sponsored by NEA-Alaska who had no input about the content of the forum. Full forum recap and video in the comments. #AlaskaPolicy #pensionreform #publicservice (fb)

Tourism adds $5.7 BILLION to Alaska's economy but it could be so much more. We talk a lot in Alaska about the pipeline but one renewable pipeline that Alaskans can help fill is the tourism pipeline. Commonwealth North Inc, in partnership with Visit Anchorage, Alaska Travel Industry Association, ANCHORAGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, Anchorage Economic Development Corporation and Alaska Version 3 (AKv3) - an alphabet soup of organizations have come together in order to provide you a $1500 MBA course over a weekend that will provide you a road map on creating Alaska's next big tourism company. Alaska is not meeting the current demand for tourism activities. Tourists spend almost two days in Anchorage. And I guarantee you that they have enough places to eat and shop. But they are looking for more. They are looking for an experience. In 54 hours, you'll prototype and validate a tourism idea and get expert advice and mentorship from Alaska's biggest tour operators and organizations. Maybe you have an idea about how to pull together Alaska's existing tourism opportunities and package them in such a way that you walk away with 15% of revenue. Or maybe you have a cultural tourism idea like an Alaska native spa or a class on basket weaving or ancient hunting. No idea is a bad one. Or maybe you have no idea at all but you have the excitement to start something new. This $1500 accelerated business course is happening September 5th through 7th. It's for the young and old, the experienced, and inexperienced. I said $1,500, but it will only cost you $75 to attend. AND If you sign up before 2PM on August 14th, you'll get 50% off. So, how do you sign up? Do a search for startup weekend Anchorage on Google. As I mentioned that 50% off is only good for a limited time. So it will only cost you $37.50 for a $1500 accelerated tourism business course. I can't wait to see you there! With support from Welcome Anchorage Tours & Stellar Investments. (fb)