In FY2024, total Alaska State Revenue was approximately $15.5 billion dollars. Of that amount, mining activities brought in about $62 million, or roughly 0.4%. This percentage has remained less than one percent since FY2020. This is for all mining on lands owned by the State.
Meanwhile, the cost to Alaska for upgrading roads, bridges and additional maintenance for the Manh Choh ore haul is estimated to be $1.04 Billion dollars (per the Kinney Engineering Corridor Action Plan and the Alaska Department of Transportation). Because Manh Choh is on private Native land, the state does not stand to collect revenue from mining operations.
With all the talk of opening up Alaska to new mining operations, perhaps it’s time to revisit mining tax laws.