"Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska repealing the prohibition on dedicated funds."

HJR 20 (JUD) would add a new section 18 to Article IX of the Constitution.

Specifically, if passed by the legislature and adopted at the November 2004 general election, a dedicated fund would be established requiring all taxes generated through the sale of motor fuels to be placed in it for the express purpose of maintaining Alaska's roads and highways.

Alaska's constitution prohibits dedicated funds except for the Permanent Fund, Constitutional Budget Reserve, and for dedicated funds in existence prior to statehood.

Amending Alaska's constitution should not be taken lightly. However, as our state revenues continue their decline, I believe Alaskans would be more amenable to contributing to the effort to maintain our road and highway infrastructure if they had assurances the motor fuel taxes levied were utilized for that express purpose.

Motor fuels taxes in all states are dedicated in some fashion for road and highway maintenance. Currently, in Alaska, motor fuels taxes are deposited in a special highway fuel tax account within the general fund allowing them to be appropriated for any budget expense.

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