Economic solution begins with slimmer government

A Spectrum, by Jim Colver

As oil production in Alaska has declined, so has the amount of money available for the state's operating and capital budgets.

We need a fiscal plan that will bring Alaskans together. More to the point, we need to bring Alaskans together to help develop that fiscal plan. To do this we must -- in open, public meetings -- look at all the options, listen to what the people need, develop a plan and take it out to the public.

We need to take a hard look at making state government itself -- including the Legislature -- more efficient, and make reductions in non-essential services and programs.

Here are a few things I believe we can, and should, do to cut government costs:

Limit the Legislature's sessions to 90 days, instead of 120 days.

Eliminate per diem for legislators when they aren't in session.

Reduce travel for legislative and state staff and officials.

Deliver services directly -- currently the administration of the Village Public Safety Officer program is by nonprofit entities using 40 percent of the funds for this service -- this could be done by the existing management at the Department of Public Safety and eliminate the extra layer of management.

Focus on essentials -- fund education (which is constitutionally mandated), public safety and road maintenance.

My budget priorities are education (which is constitutionally mandated), public safety, road maintenance and finding ways to reduce the state budget without reducing services and programs the public actually needs.

Strong Economy

Alaska can achieve more revenues through increased oil and gas development -- bring smaller fields on-line, encourage construction of a pipeline to bring Alaska's North Slope natural gas reserves to markets, streamline permitting, and push for development of the oil reserves in ANWR.

We are a resource rich state, and those resources belong to the people of Alaska. We need to ensure that the state gets its fair share of revenues from the use and sale of our resources.

To achieve this we must have the public's participation and the Legislature must put partisan politics aside -- this means working closely with our new governor. As we do this, we need to ensure that Alaska's Permanent Fund and Permanent Fund Dividend are protected by keeping the Legislature's hands off the Permanent Fund's unreserved earnings and dividends. No earnings means no dividend.

By working together I know we can achieve a budget that maintains quality education for our children, that protects the safety and health of Alaskans, and that does not require tampering with, or raiding, the permanent fund or the Permanent Fund Dividend program.

Jim Colver is a Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly member running for State House Candidate District 13, Palmer.