Alaska's oil-based economy is always going to be volatile.  One year oil prices are high, and the State budget booms with new projects.  They can't spend it fast enough.  However, the problem is that the next year oil prices plummet and our politicians are now addicted to spending more - MUCH more.  Instead of being realistic, and developing a State budget that is consistent with the price of oil - or finding a more stable way to base the funding of a State government - they seek additional funds that don't exist in order to fill the void the lost oil revenue caused.