ANCHORAGE, Alaska — As Alaska faces a multibillion dollar budget deficit, the oil fund wealth checks distributed yearly to nearly every Alaskan could be on the chopping block.

It could mean the first time in more than 30 years that most Alaskans won’t get a check from the government just for living in the state.

“We’ll look at every item individually,” said Gov. Bill Walker. Last year, nearly every Alaskan received a record amount, $2,072, in the oil fund check. The fund has paid a dividend yearly since 1982.

Walker’s talk about ending the checks — and implementing a state income tax for the first time in decades — could be political suicide, but Walker, a first term independent, doesn’t face re-election this year.