Session: State Capitol, Room 414 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-4939 Fax: (907) 465-2418 Interim 716 W 4th Avenue, Suite 620 Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: (907) 269-0244 Fax: (907) 269-0248 APOC Contribution Reports Bill Action & Status Inquiry System

Fiscal Policy Caucus Announces 'Town Hall' Meetings

(ANCHORAGE) - This is the story of a family. A large family whose members number around 630,000 and spans an area the same size as the distance between Denver and Mexico City. A family who has been paying for everyday expenses like school, road maintenance and economic development from their savings account. A family whose saving account is getting smaller and smaller and will eventually be gone by 2005. That family is the State of Alaska and it needs your help, your wisdom and your philosophic two cents.

The Fiscal Policy Caucus is a bipartisan, ad-hoc group of Alaska Legislators who felt it was time to start solving the fiscal gap. This year's withdrawal from our savings account was over $600 million and the Department of Revenue predicts the account will be gone by 2005.

On Wednesday, July 25th at 6:30pm in the Wilda Marston Theater, the Fiscal Policy Caucus will hold its first 'Town Hall' meeting on the future of Alaska's finances. It will be your opportunity to stand up and speak out on how you think the problem should be solved.

The evening will begin with a brief presentation by the Department of Revenue and the Office of Management and Budget. They will give a quick look at where the family gets its money and how that money is spent. After the presentation, it will be time to hear from the family members. We will turn over the microphones and take public testimony until 10pm. In addition to being able to speak your piece, we will have legislative and Administration officials there to answer any questions you might have about state government. This meeting will be the first in a series of 'Town Hall' meetings that are designed to foster a dialogue with Alaskans. Future meetings will be held on August 21 and September 19 at the same location.

Since the formation of the Fiscal Policy Caucus four months ago, we have always extended an invitation to any and all legislators to get involved with the discussions about how we are to go about getting our family's finances back in order. It is a problem that will require a tremendous amount of leadership to solve. The truth of the matter is that this problem is about simple mathematics and not about politics. If we continue to spend our savings at the current pace, by the year 2005 we will be searching for over $1 billion in needed revenue which would certainly create negative consequences for our families and communities. The areas in the state budget where we run the huge deficit are considered by many as the most critical services that government provides. Schools, road maintenance, public safety and the court system are some of those departments whose annual budget comes from general fund spending. There is no single silver bullet and the decisions we make will impact us all in one way or another.

Alaska is a state that has a rich history of pulling together like a family to meet the challenges that face us on a daily basis. After spending the last month trying to defend my new Hopa Crab Apple Trees from the neighborhood moose, I believe that communication is the key to all problem solving. We look forward to seeing you at the Wilda Marston Theatre at 6:30pm on the 25th and more importantly, hearing from you.

# # #

Attachments:

• Print Friendly Version
  requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - 1 page(s) - 54 K

| Rep. Halcro's Page |

| Top | Home | Site Search | Breaking News | Legislators | Bills |
| Committees | E-Newsletter | Surveys | Research | Help |

The Official Web Site of the House and Senate Legislative Majorities
for the 22nd Alaska State Legislature
To Report Technical Problems or Contact Webmasters