a_r:  You don't get it.  Go to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development website to see just how many slopers are non-residents.  There about 4000.  So for the mininscule amount of income tax they would pay you want about 50% of Alaskan wage earners to pay an income tax to support the state services and benefits all Alaskans utilize.  Quit focusing on the minuatae of non-resident slopers and look at the big picture.  Your animosity towards slopers is blinding you.  But you are right they would pay very little sales tax but what about the million plus tourists and visitors to Alaska?  With an income tax they would pay nothing, nada, zippo.  Or maybe you work in the tourist industry and that is what you really care about.