Borough Prop. 1 is an unfunded mandate

I have been following the debate over the Mat-Su Borough’s Prop. 1 and am disappointed that no one has pointed out that this is an unfunded mandate. This is a law that would force the Borough and cities to either pay special interests to obey our laws or waive the laws.

Penny Nixon, one of the people behind Prop. 1, says over and over again that the Borough and cities can just waive the claims and will have to spend no money on Prop. 1. My question for him is what about the staff people and lawyers required to read over and process all of the claims filed under Prop. 1? Won’t the Borough have to pay these people?

Prop. 1 will cost money to administer and that money will have to come from somewhere. Unfortunately, we as taxpayers in the Mat-Su will have to cover the cost.

Prop. 1 is an unfunded mandate and we should vote no on Oct. 2.

Audra Yamamoto

Palmer