Mat-Su tax dollars for an assembly political action committee?

Mat-Su Borough taxpayer dollars could be used to influence statewide ballot issues if assemblyman Ron Arvin’s proposed Ordinance 14-050 gets past a public hearing on April 1.

Similar proposals came up a couple of times during the past decade and were soundly defeated. Our current borough code prohibits money being spent to influence borough and statewide ballot measures. Most folks don’t like the idea of the government using public funds to push one side of a ballot question, and rightfully so.

Statewide ballot measures are basic rights enshrined in the Alaska Constitution. Our constitution confers the responsibility on Alaskans to sit as the “Legislature” to decide a proposed constitutional amendment, a referendum on a law passed by the Legislature or a ballot measure brought by initiative petition.

All of these different types of measures are difficult to get onto the ballot. The state does not spend money advocating for or against. The official election pamphlet contains statements written by supporters on both sides of each ballot measure. Private residents and groups may choose to advocate on their own.

Some unusual and unexpected things could happen with this proposed ordinance. What if the borough spent $1 million in support of the referendum to repeal the Senate Bill 21 oil tax reduction in order to offset spending by oil companies to defeat it? What if the assembly weighed in on controversial measures like a constitutional amendment on school vouchers or marijuana? Voters might be encouraged to reject the assembly’s push.

The proposed ordinance is vague on whether it permits the assembly to spend money on any statewide ballot measure or if each measure would need separate approval. There is no limitation on the amount the assembly could potentially appropriate.

Don’t forget the APOC disclaimer tag: “Paid for by the Mat-Su Assembly with taxpayers’ funds.” That ought to encourage voters!

People can read the proposal online at bit.ly/1obUBEJ.

The framers of our Alaska Constitution structured local assemblies and councils as nonpartisan municipalities with the idea to encourage local problem solving without the political party contentiousness at the legislative level. Spending public money on divisive statewide ballot measures diverts our energy and money away from the problems that we need to solve together in our own borough.

The Mat-Su Borough Assembly already has its hands full trying to figure out how to adequately fund local priorities. How many paramedics, firefighters or teachers would have to be cut to fund political propaganda on a statewide measure when we already struggle to meet our critical needs?

We have plenty to do here in the borough to build trust, work on the budget, schools, emergency services, roads and the other real issues that people expect from the borough assembly.

Jim Sykes is a member of the Mat-Su Borough Assembly.