Thank you for taking a few moments to answer the following survey. Your opinion is extremely valuable to me as your representative and I will consider your responses whenever I make a decision affecting the future of our region or the state as a whole.

Schools, transportation, and other state spending are big concerns for all of us. Your input will help me as the Legislative session moves through the process this year

Peggy

Southeast Alaska has seen a big economic slump in the last few years. Please rate the following on a scale from 1 - 5 with one being the highest priority, five being the lowest, what you believe the main reasons are.

Timber industry shut-downs

Declining fisheries

Cut-backs to state services

Lack of new business

Current businesses closing

Lack of good-paying jobs

Transportation needs

People simply want a new location

As co-chair of the Fisheries Committee, I am interested in your input on issues affecting our largest renewable resource. Please rate the following topics in order of your priority, 1 being the highest, and 6 the lowest.

Research Issues

Mariculture Issues

Marketing

Subsistence

Enforcement

Overall funding for ADFG

Other

In 1997, the Alaska Legislature enacted legislation requiring all Alaska school students to demonstrate competency in reading, writing and math. Beginning with the class of 2002, all students must pass the High School Qualifying Exam in addition to completing all course requirements to earn a high school diploma. Students who do not pass the examination will only receive a certificate of attendance. The governor has asked for a delay in the implementation of the High School Qualifying Exam until 2006.

Should there be a delay in the test as a graduation requirement?

Yes
No

If "Yes", begin testing in the year:

2003
2004
2005
2006

In your opinion, which one of the following is the primary reason students are failing the high school competency test?

Alaska used to have a Pioneer Road Program. The purpose of this program was to build basic roads to open up an area for community or resource development and for settlement. These roads were not standard two-lane paved highways but gravel roads sufficient for travel. Should Alaska reinstitute such a program?

Yes
No

Congress has mandated that states lower the Blood Alcohol Content to .08% from the current .10% by the year 2004. States that do not comply, risk losing federal transportation dollars. Alaska would risk losing approximately $7 million dollars the first year if this is not implemented.

Do you support lowering the BAC to .08% to maintain federal funding?

Yes
No

Alcohol abuse and underage drinking are devastating problems in Alaska. Alaska's current alcohol tax has remained at a flat rate since 1983 and brings about $15 million a year into the state. Several proposals are being discussed that could raise the tax at the state and local level. If we were to increase the tax by 10 cents per drink to keep pace with inflation, it could mean $33 million in additional revenue to the state. Alcohol abuse programs cost the state a minimum of $206 million each year.

Do you support adding 10 cents per drink to an already existing tax to keep pace with inflation and help offset the cost of alcohol abuse?

Yes
No

Would you support an additional 10 cents per drink increase for municipalities to use for supporting alcohol abuse programs that are currently being covered by property taxes?

Yes
No

Would you support both, resulting in an increase of 20 cents per drink?

Yes
No

Currently, non-profit organizations that engage in political activities are the only organizations not required to disclose their sources of income. Do you believe these organizations (e.g. Sierra Club, AK Public Interest Group - AKPIRG, Alaska Conservation Voters) should be required to disclose their sources of income that are used to influence elections and initiatives in Alaska?

Yes
No

Please rank the priorities that you think the Legislature should be working on. Rank 1 through 5, with 1 being your highest priority and 5 the lowest.

Budget Cuts

Find New Sources of Revenue

Schools and education

Protecting the environment

Repair and maintenance of harbors and buildings

Public safety and police protection

Better Ferry Service

Other - Please indicate and rank

The State of Alaska is getting a breather this fiscal year with a slight surplus due to the unexpectedly high price of oil and the past five years of fiscal restraint. However, projections for next fiscal year call for a $500 million or greater deficit. With 78% of Alaska's revenue coming from oil, the state's income goes up and down with the price of oil.

Possible solutions include increased corporate taxes, re-instituted personal taxes, use of the Earnings Reserve of the Permanent Fund, further budget cuts, and/or economic growth.

Obviously, no one item will solve a $500 million problem. The Legislature continues to try to craft a combination of options that will both balance our budget and have support from the general public. With that in mind, as always, I seek your council and advice.

Should the Alaska legislature develop a long-term financial plan?

Yes
No

Budget cuts alone are not likely to balance our budget. Please rank the priority of the following options that you think the Legislature should consider to increase state revenues. (1 - Highest Priority, 5 - Lowest Priority)

Economic growth

State sales tax

State income tax

Increase corporate/business taxes

Use a portion of the Earnings Reserve of the Permanent Fund (the money left after the PFD's are paid)

Continued limits on government growth

Alaska's Constitution mandates that 25% of oil and mineral leases, royalties and bonuses are deposited into the principal of the Permanent Fund. In 1980, the Legislature increased this to 50% on all the new leases. If we repealed this law and went back to the original 25%, an extra $29 million a year would be generated to help close the fiscal gap; the impact on the dividends would be minimal.

Do you support changing the law back to the Constitution's 25%?

Yes
No

Over the last five years the budget has been cut by $250 million. Do you support efforts to continue to cut the state budget or do you believe the budget has been cut enough already? Check all that apply:

Fully funding education is a top priority for me. Currently one third of our state budget is allocated to education. Would you support a constitutional amendment to establish an Educational Endowment Fund, created from the Earnings Reserve of the Permanent Fund to fully fund K-12?

Yes
No

Would you support using a portion of the Earnings Reserve of the Permanent Fund for Municipal Revenue Sharing, even if it meant that the amount of your PFD would decrease over time?

Yes
No

North Slope oil and gas producers, under the terms of their oil and gas leases with the State of Alaska, have a contractual obligation to develop and market the resources; including the State's one-eighth royalty share of the oil and gas produced. The producers have studied several alternatives for producing the vast North Slope gas reserves over the years since oil production began there 23 years ago. However, they have always concluded that projects were too costly to complete, or that markets did not exist for Alaska gas.

Domestic gas prices currently are higher than ever experienced in the United States, and both prices and demand are projected to remain high for the foreseeable future. Earlier this month, the major owners of the North Slope gas Reserves (BP/Amoco, Phillips, and Exxon) announced another joint study to evaluate alternative routes for a pipeline project to the Lower 48 States. The companies' analyses of whether or not to proceed, and if so, along which alternative route may take as much as a year to complete.

Should the producers decide not to proceed with commercialization of Alaska's gas, the State could implement a reserves tax on the non-produced gas. The reserves tax would provide a method for the State to receive a portion of the delayed or foregone revenues, which it would otherwise receive as royalty and severance tax payments if and when the gas was commercialized. A gas reserves tax could provide an important source of State revenue for maintaining vital public services as oil production declines and/or during periods of prolonged low oil prices.

Do you support implementing a gas reserves tax in Alaska?

Yes
No

District Priorities

What are your concerns and priorities in our district?

What do you think is the most important issue or problem facing SE Alaska and/or our district? How would you address this issue?

What program(s) or service(s) provided by state government are MOST important to you?

What program(s) or service(s) provided by state government are LEAST important to you?

Do you have any other comments you'd like to share?

What is your name?

What is your physical address?

How many individuals are living in your household?

I will be working on an e-mail legislative newsletter. If you would like to receive a copy of this, please indicate your e-mail address here: