Juneau - A recent District 15 survey of registered voters showed that Alaskans in that district overwhelmingly support reduced spending in an effort to balance the budget.

More than half of the over 500 respondents supported a statewide sales tax to help support state services. An equal number of individuals said they felt that reducing spending was best way to balance the state budget.

"It's clear from the survey that tax payers in the Valley are willing to pay for services as long as they are convinced that they are getting a good return on their investment, and not pouring their hard-earned dollars into bloated government," said Representative Beverly Masek (R-Willow), who commissioned the survey earlier this year. Rep. Masek went on to say, "It will take a combination of additional revenue, combined with tightening the belt on government spending in order to ensure that Alaska solves its long-range fiscal problems."

Respondents were asked whether funding should be increased, decreased or maintained in the following areas: K-12 education, university education, corrections/prisons, welfare-to-work, troopers/safety officers, homeland security and highway maintenance. In each of these areas the majority of those surveyed called for maintaining current funding levels.

The survey also found that the Valley is split in its support of video gambling, and almost 60% of those surveyed support coal bed methane development in the area.

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