Taxpayers deserve relief from state

April 27, 2007

Another year, another budget cycle, another apparent round of disdain for Alaskans from the state Legislature.

When Gov. Sarah Palin earlier this year introduced her budget that called for cutting $150 million in spending, even some of the Legislature's most strident fiscal conservatives suggested such deep cuts were not possible.

Fast forward nearly three months. Public money has been spent on a controversial and inconclusive advisory vote and, more recently, on a poll to tell legislators how wonderful they are. Both had at least as much to do with furthering a political agenda as they did with furthering good public policy.

On a more big-ticket note, bills are currently on the move in the House to reward the cruise and travel industry with millions of dollars in direct and indirect subsidies, while calculated inaction on a Senate bill that initially boasted widespread support could end up hitting Alaskans in the pocketbook for more than $100 million.

In the meantime, despite a budget surplus in the range of $3 billion, the longevity bonus and municipal revenue sharing - programs that have a direct effect on the quality of life of regular Alaskans - have been cut from the budget by legislative committees whose members say the state simply can't afford these programs.

The message being sent to Alaskans seems clear: Corporate interests with big corporate checkbooks, who are some of the most generous contributors to political campaigns, get a piece of the pie, while Alaskans who have worked and raised families here get to foot the bill, even as their property taxes escalate to nearly unmanageable levels.

Palin's proposed operating budget included $48 million for revenue sharing. In a total spending plan worth billions, that's a drop in the bucket.

Considering that the vast majority of state revenue comes from the extraction of resources owned by Alaskans, there is no legitimate justification for the Legislature to once again not share the wealth. Factor in the $5.8 million in state-mandated, but not reimbursed, property tax exemptions for seniors and disabled veterans in the Mat-Su Borough alone, and it borders on shameful.

According to borough statistics, the average property owner now antes up about $255 a month in property taxes. With growth in the borough showing no signs of slowing, the need for increased investment in public infrastructure like roads and schools is also on the rise. Without the state relief that revenue sharing would provide, higher property taxes appear to be unavoidable.

Residents and voters who find this unacceptable can still contact their legislators. Addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses for the Valley delegation appear below on this page.