District 18 - Republican
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Session: State Capitol, Room 501 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-4843 Fax: (907) 465-3871 Send E-Mail Interim: 716 W 4th Avenue, Suite 410 Anchorage, AK 99501-2133 Phone: (907) 269-0181 Fax: (907) 269-0184 |
March 21, 2000
Mid-Session District Survey Results
Dear District 18 Resident:
I have some interim results from many of you who have returned my 2000 Session Survey. I want to thank all of you who have returned your survey. I applaud your involvement! I would also like to encourage those of you who have not returned your survey to do so. Your participation helps me to make the decisions that are necessary, as my decisions are strongly influenced by your input.
Here are the results to date:
Top priority issue that the Legislature should be working on.
| 32% | Budget Cuts | |
| 26% | Environmental Protection | |
| 15% | Education | |
| 11% | Finding New Revenue for State Government | |
| 9% | Crime and Public Safety | |
| 7% | Public Facility Maintenance |
Do you support further, targeted cuts of $30 million to the state budget?
| 59% | Yes | |
| 41% | No |
Which of the following options do you prefer to balance the state budget?
| 22% | Much deeper cuts likely to impact core services, | |
| 41% | New State taxes combined with more limited budget cuts, | |
| 37% | Pay Dividends, Use Earnings Reserve Account for core state services, and more limited cuts |
Which of the following possible sources of state revenue, if any, would you support?
| 24% | A flat income tax of 5% based on federal adjusted gross income, | |
| 46% | State sales tax of 5% (exempting food & medicine) added to any sales tax levied by local government, | |
| 24% | A nine-cent per galon Motor Fuel Tax, | |
| 4% | Income Tax and Gas Tax (write-in choice). (write in responses) | |
| 2% | All options combined (write-in choice). (write in responses) |
Mayor Mystrom would like the Legislature to abolish the Senior Citizen/Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption. Do you feel that:
| 25% | They deserve this exemption and it should be fully funded. | |
| 55% | The program should be based on income. | |
| 20% | This exemption should be a local option |
The Legislature has said that the State cannot afford any net increase in state employee contracts. Do you feel that:
| 49% | State employees are, for the most part, fairly compensated and the Legislature's position is correct while there is a deficit, | |
| 28% | State employees have had no recent raises and should receive fair raises, | |
| 23% | No pay raises, but the state should absorb any increases in health benefits, |
Last session, the Legislature cut Municipal Revenue Sharing (M.R.S.) by 33%. Despite past cuts and knowledge about future cuts, Anchorage has increased the Municipality's budget and property taxes each year. Do you feel that:
| 15% | The Legislature should make no further cuts to M.R.S. despite budget gap, | |
| 50% | Anchorage Mayor and Assembly should also cut Municipal budget, | |
| 33% | Anchorage Mayor and Assembly should be considering ways to increase revenue, such as a municipal sales tax, |
The Governor has proposed that the state should initiate a government to government relationship with federally recognized tribes in Alaska. Do you:
| 38% | Support this effort, | |
| 62% | Oppose this effort, |
Another issue that may interest you is that the Draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), as amended, is available for public comment. You can get a copy from the Internet at http://www.dot.state.ak.us/external/state_wide/planning/finalstip98-1.pdf. If you have any concerns about the roads or trails in the Anchorage area, I encourage you to look at the STIP and make any comments to the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities that you think appropriate. The public comment period is open through April 13, 2000.
Lastly, I have been informed that cars parked at Flat Top have been broken into lately, as often as two a day. If you use that parking lot, I thought you might want to know.
Please keep in touch, and if you have any comments or questions about these or any other topics, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Con
Attachments:
- Original Survey (Requires Adobe's Acrobat Reader)
- Updated Results from May 10, 2000
PRIVACY POLICY: All addresses are "blind" for your privacy. A strict "no spam" policy is observed. If you don't wish to receive "Legislative Update", just let me know. If you know a friend or neighbor in District 18 who has not received "Legislative Update" but would like to be included, I will be glad to include them if they contact me. Your replies, comments, questions, and/or suggestions are welcome. Constituent comments on legislation and policy issues may be tabulated, shared with other legislators, or quoted in speeches. Names, however, will be kept private.