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House Endorses
Local Service Area Protection
Bunde's HB 13 Preserves
Autonomy of Local Government Services

(JUNEAU) - Private citizens who band together to pay for a limited level of road maintenance, fire protection or other services would be safe from forcible absorption into local area-wide government service districts under House Bill 13, which passed the House of Representatives today.

Sponsored by Rep. Con Bunde (R-Anchorage), HB 13 would require that any alteration or abolishment of a road service area could occur only with the approval of a majority of voters living in that area. Bunde said he introduced the bill to preserve Alaskans' constitutional right to maximum local self-government, and to protect residents of service areas from the tyranny of the majority.

"Road service areas are a perfect example of scaling government to fit the needs of the governed," said Bunde. "Nothing could be more democratic than people paying for the level of service they want."

Service areas are popular in semi-rural areas of Anchorage, Fairbanks and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, where neighbors pool their money to pay private contractors to maintain roads, provide fire protection, or maintain parks.

Though the Legislature last year passed an identical bill also sponsored by Bunde, Governor Tony Knowles vetoed it, claiming constitutional concerns. Testimony from legislative attorneys during debate on HB 13 this year put to rest any questions that the measure is unconstitutional, Bunde said.

HB 13 moves next to the Senate for consideration.

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Attachments:

• Sponsor Statement for HB 13
  
• Print Friendly Version
  requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - 1 page(s) - 83 K

| Rep. Bunde's Page |

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