Stacks of money are being distributed, but where will it go?

Frontiersman editorial board

It's budget time. Whether you're looking at the Mat-Su Borough, the school district or the state, stacks and stacks of money are being moved around on paper in order to fund the basics of our daily lives -- education, fire, police and ambulance protection, health care, roads to drive on, and too many other things to name.

And now is the time to get tuned in to what's happening. How much did the borough road service area you live in collect, and what is planned for that money? How much of your property tax dollar should go toward education? Do you support Valley legislators' efforts to cut spending at the state level?

If you don't know how much money the borough will approve in its budget, request a copy from the borough clerk's office. Stop by the school district's administration office to obtain a copy of the education budget. Track the state budget on the governor's Web site, at www.gov.state.ak.us.

While the school district's budget has not yet been approved by the borough assembly and the borough budget is just beginning to be discussed in work sessions, the state operating budget is nearing its adoption. Public comment periods are closed for the Senate's version of the state's operating budget, but, as Jerry Burnett, staffer for Sen. Lyda Green said, legislators' offices are always open. And as Palmer Mayor Jim Cooper, after a recent return from Juneau to meet with legislators said, the budget changes every 10 minutes.

There are several cuts currently proposed that would affect Valley residents. Aside from the parks closures and timber contract sales changes discussed in this edition, changes in the departments of Public Safety and Health and Social Services could impact child care, the number of Alaska State Troopers in the area and several other aspects of everyday life. Those cuts will be more specifically addressed in coming editions of the Frontiersman.

Legislators, assembly members and school board members were all elected to represent the needs of Valley residents as a whole. They were voted in to give you a voice in how policy is shaped in Alaska -- no matter what level it's at. As a responsible resident, your job is to keep representatives informed of where you stand. E-mail your assembly member. Send your legislator a public opinion message. But whatever method you choose, use it. Now is the time, and those stacks of money belong to you.