Governor Walker will call legislators into a fourth special session

Governor Bill Walker's office told legislators today that he will call legislators to a fourth special session, likely in late October.

Despite a 121-day regular session and three special sessions that followed, the Legislature has so far been unable to pass measures that would close the state's multi-billion-dollar budget gap.

Although legislators and the governor have made substantial cuts in state spending, a gap of roughly $2.5 billion dollars still remains.

That gap has lawmakers considering revenue measures such as restructuring the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund or re-instituting a state income tax.

Those items are likely to be on the docket when the governor officially declares the special session, which his office says is likely to begin October 23rd.