text: The oil price decline did not cause the budget deficit. BS 21 caused the deficit and this occurred before the oil price dropped. The oil price has increased from $26 to $50, so with ACES, the progressive surcharge would be applied to this increase and thus, increase revenues to Alaska. Also, the $700 million in tax credits given to the wealthiest oil corporations on the planet, assisted in causing the deficit. This $700 million per year in corporate welfare has to be stopped, because the oil corporations failed to increase oil production.