Where will cruise taxes go?

According to CoastAlaska (via APRN), the Senate's version of the capital budget proposes spending more than $45 million in revenue derived from head taxes on cruise passengers for projects at or near the water in several Southeast communities. The new budget represents a shift from the previous year's head-tax appropriation, which mainly funded projects in areas indirectly affected by the summer influx of water-borne visitors, and which was approved prior to a cruise industry lawsuit alleging that the head taxes were being misused. The current proposal provides help to dock construction and maintenance around Southeast, as well as new facilities for visitors and locals alike. Such projects were unlikely to get past former Gov. Sarah Palin's veto pen, but Gov. Parnell has committed to negotiate with the Legislature on the matter. Listen to much, much more, here.