Juneau -- Residents of Northeast Anchorage, Ft. Richardson and Eagle River oppose cuts in elementary, secondary and university education, and oppose selling the Alaska Student Loan program according to the results of a constituent survey conducted by Senator Randy Phillips (R-Eagle River).

"I have conducted this survey for 24 years and the results are invaluable," said Senator Phillips.

Those responding to the survey support reducing the General Fund Budget in most areas, and support privatizing the Alaska Housing and Finance Corporation and Alaska Industrial Development & Export Authority. Senator Phillips' constituents do not support personal income or sales taxes, and support the statewide ballot initiative to cap the personal property tax at 10 mils. 62.5% of respondents oppose using a portion of the Permanent Fund Earnings Reserve to close the fiscal gap on a long term basis.

Of 9341 questionnaires mailed, 894 or 9.6% were completed and returned.

Following are the survey results: (Please note that the percentage shown for each answer represents a percent of the total answering that particular question and not a percent of the total questionnaires returned.)

Snow machines: 51.6% favor allowing certain off-highway vehicles, primarily snow machines, to operate within certain designated areas of the Municipality.

Automobile Headlight Use: 63.7% favor a law requiring the use of automobile headlights at all times while traveling on Alaska highways.

Property Taxes: 61.4% favor the statewide initiative petition capping municipal property taxes at 10 mils of the assessed property value.

Legalizing Hemp (Marijuana): 67.6% oppose legalizing hemp (Marijuana)

Reductions - State General Fund Budget: Q. Do you favor or oppose reducing the budget for:

• Core State Government Functions: 64.7% favor
• Local Schools: 64.8% oppose
• Grants/Formulas Programs: 71.2% favor
• University of Alaska: 56.0% oppose
• Capital Projects: 62.3% favor
• Local Government Assistance: 57.2% favor
• State Funds used to match Federal Funds: 63.7% oppose

Sale of State Financial Assests: Q. To help close the fiscal gap on a short-term basis, do you favor or oppose:

• Closing down Alaska Housing and Finance Corporation (AHFC) and selling it for approximately $1.8 billion? 54.4% favor
• Closing down Alaska Industrial Development & Export Authority (AIDEA) and selling it for approximately $847 million? 65.9% favor
• Closing down Alaska Student Loan Program and selling it for approximately $190 million? 67.3% oppose

Use of Permanent Fund Earnings Reserve after paying Permanent Fund Dividends and Inflation-Proofing the Permanent Fund: Q. Do you favor or oppose:

• Using a portion of Permanent Fund Earnings Reserve to close the fiscal gap on a long-term basis? 62.5% oppose
• Using 20% ($513 million) of Permanent Fund Earnings Reserve to close the fiscal gap on a long-term basis? 65.1% oppose
• Using 33% ($846 million) of Permanent Fund Earnings Reserve to close the fiscal gap on a long-term basis? 81.8% oppose

New or Increased Taxes: Q. Do you favor or oppose:

• A State Income Tax at 4.22% of the Federal Taxable Income? 82.8% oppose
• A statewide 4.75% sales tax? 59.5% oppose
• An increase in the royalty rate on the oil industry? 64.7% favor
• An increase in the Oil Severance Tax on the oil industry? 60.7% favor
• An increase in the Corporate Income Tax on the oil industry? 64.0% favor
• An increase in the Property Tax on the oil industry? 60.9% favor
• An increase in the Motor Fuel Tax? 68.6% oppose
• A statewide $100 Individual Employment School Tax? 70.5% oppose

Use of Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund (CBRF): 55.7% oppose using CBRF to balance the state budget until CBRF is depleted.

State Budget Options: Q. Which options do you think Alaska should take to close the fiscal gap? Choose up to Two options. Number of options checked:

• Reduce State General Fund Budget: 582
• New or Increase Taxes: 273
• Sale of State Financial Assets: 314
• Use of Permanent fund Earnings Reserve: 250
• Use of Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund (CBRF): 309

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