Assembly adopts priority list

MAT-SU -- The Mat-Su Borough Assembly, last week, adopted a list of legislative priorities jointly compiled with the Municipality of Anchorage Assembly.

The two groups have met several times over the past few months and recognized potential benefits in making a list of regional priorities both groups could submit to their legislators.

"They've come up with a list of legislative issues that they both agree should be pursued," explained Mat-Su Borough Manager John Duffy.

The Anchorage assembly has approved the list.

The list, Duffy added, is in addition to legislative priorities the two municipalities will submit to legislators addressing local needs. Further funding for Port MacKenzie, for example, will be on the borough's localized list.

Two lists were compiled, of federal and state legislative priorities.

Common federal legislative priorities:

Payment in lieu of taxes (PILT): Because a significant portion of land in the Mat-Su Borough and in the Municipality of Anchorage is under federal ownership, both municipalities receive payments in lieu of taxes. Adding this to the list reflects support for the program.

Funding program for marine ports: According to information from Duffy, no funding program exists for capital improvements of marine port facilities. This lack has resulted in the use of funding programs that are not designed for port projects, which results in project delays and confusion regarding appropriate regulations. Both groups support a separate funding program through the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Knik Arm Crossing: Both groups support the development of a second link between Anchorage and the borough. Information provided by Duffy states that a second link would not only decrease the stress on the Glenn Highway, but would provide an alternate route, should transportation along the Glenn be disrupted. The crossing would also provide a connection to the region's ports and, thereby strengthen commerce.

Funding for specialized education: Funding for these programs makes up a large portion of area school districts' operating budgets, and both municipalities support an increase in federal funding for the program in order to provide a basic level of services to students with special needs.

Urban interface wild land fire prevention: Because much of the forest around Southcentral Alaska is overmature, diseased and infected with spruce bark beetles, and the rate of development among this type of forested area is rising, many Alaskan homes are susceptible to wild fires. Both municipalities support the funding of a program that would educate people about ways to combat wild fires in urban areas.

Common state legislative priorities:

Senior citizen exemption eligibility criteria, and full funding of the program: The Alaska Legislature, Duffy said, has said Alaskan senior citizens can qualify for tax exemptions and even agreed to compensate local governments for those exemptions, but that compensation has never been provided. Additionally, the state's eligibility criteria is not currently standardized, leaving the possibility for confusion and fraud. Both municipalities support standardization of the criteria and funding of the program.

Commuter bus study: Because the recent Alaska Railroad Corp. study showed that developing commuter rail service from the borough to Anchorage would depend on significant local funding and may not prove profitable, Duffy said the two municipalities would like to see a state-funded study of what may prove to be a lower-cost and possibly more viable alternative.

Glenn Highway illumination: Duffy said the Anchorage assembly, after seeing the successful cooperation of the state Department of Transportation (DOT), Matanuska Electric Association Inc. and the borough, to get lighting alongside the Palmer Hay Flats segment of the Glenn Highway, suggested adding this priority to the list. It requests that the remaining portions of the Glenn Highway that are unlighted be lit in order to improve safety for travelers.

DOT operating and maintenance budget: This would increase DOT's annual budget. The increase would offset the increasing cost of providing service, as well as the increase of operations due to ongoing capital projects.

"We've been increasing lane miles," Duffy said, "but there hasn't been an increase [in DOT's budget]."

Education funding: Both municipalities agree a quality educational system is, according to information provided by Duffy, a primary requirement for attracting new businesses and industries to Alaska, and ensuring the success of Alaska's future.

Educational capital project criteria: Certain criteria must be met by area school districts before new schools or improvements to existing schools are allowed. The two municipalities agree the criteria can have an overall negative effect on students, and suggest modifications to the criteria.

"The current criteria places a lot of students in portables for many years before they qualify [for construction]," Duffy explained.

GARVEE bond initiative: Because the initiative would leverage funds to significantly improve the state's road system, the two municipalities support passage of the initiative.

Marine highway system: The two municipalities support extending the marine highway system into upper Cook Inlet, which would provide access for Southcentral residents. They support full funding of the system's operating and maintenance program for that reason, as well as because many Southeast communities depend on the system.

Southcentral Alaska energy plan: A recent study performed by the Anchorage Economic Development Corp. shows that if there is no further exploration, natural gas reserves will decline significantly by 2020. To prepare for that decline, the two municipalities support state funding of an energy plan that would identify new sources and financial resources to fund the development of those sources.

Continued state support of the Safe Communities and revenue-sharing programs: These two programs, according to information from Duffy, help offset the growing basic needs of Southcentral Alaskans in terms of education and road maintenance. Funding for these programs has declined in the past and both municipalities encourage full funding of the programs.

Increased penalties for driving without a license or insurance:

"People who are driving without a license or without insurance, both of which are required by state law, when those people get into an accident, it costs [the victim] more money," Duffy said. Both municipalities support increasing the penalties for both violations.

Capital grant matching program: This program helps area municipalities complete important capital projects, according to information from Duffy. Both municipalities support continued funding of the program.

Adoption of a biannual state budget: Both municipalities believe a biannual state budget would not only facilitate better planning on the part of area school districts and governmental bodies, but could also help address the state's fiscal problems.

Urban interface wild land fire prevention: Like the concerns addressed on the federal priorities list, this asks the state to provide full funding of an urban interface wild land fire prevention program to help protect the lives and property of area residents.

The priority list, now adopted, will be taken by both assemblies to meetings with their local legislators.