Constituent Issues
Survey
By Representative Alan
Austerman
I’m sending out this survey in an effort
to find out what the people of Kodiak Island think about various
issues. I would appreciate it very much if you would take the
time to answer these few simple questions. Please circle your
answer.
- Do you feel that there should be state
legislation passed allowing capital punishment in Alaska?
Yes - No
- The legislature is in the third year of
their five year budget balancing act. By cutting $70
million the first year, $60 million the second year, $50
million the third year, $40 million the fourth year and
$30 million the fifth year we should have a balanced
budget. The legislature has started this year to combine
departments and make a more streamlined government. By
the 5th year,
our current revenue streams should match our operational
budget.
Do you feel that the legislature should continue with
balancing the budget by cutting $50 million this year?
Yes - No
If you have answered "No" to
the above question, how would you suggest that we get to a
balanced budget? Please circle the following answer that most
closely matches your feelings.
- Use our savings account, the
Constitutional Budget Reserve (CBR)? The past
legislators, realizing that there would be yearly ups
and downs with the price of oil, established the CBR.
Currently this account is used to balance the budget,
even during times when the price of oil is up.
- Increase business taxes, add a state
sales tax and implement a state income tax? It would
take all three of these taxes to come close to
balancing the budget.
- Use the undistributed interest
earnings from the Permanent Fund? The interest
earnings of the Permanent Fund are split up into
three segments: 1. Your dividend is mailed to you;
2. The principal of the Permanent Fund is inflation
proofed; 3. The undistributed interest
has, up until now, been placed back into the
principal. This undistributed interest is the
only Permanent Fund money that is available for use
by the legislators.
- Over the last few years the sport fishing
has increased in Alaska. This is especially true in the
Cook Inlet drainages and Southeast Alaska. We feel there
needs to be a balance in the allocation of fish
resources. Would you agree that the sport fishermen
should receive more fish and the commercial fishermen
should receive less fish?
Yes - No
- The Board of Fisheries recently made a
decision to allow non-resident sport fishermen to take as
many king salmon as residents. Do you feel that residents
should be allowed to take more fish than non-residents?
Yes - No
- A bill has been introduced in the Senate
to allow electronic poker machines on the Alaska State
Ferries. Do you favor this type of gambling?
Yes - No
- A federal take over of our fisheries on
federal land is slated for December 1, 1998. This is
happening because Alaska has not enacted laws that give
rural preference for subsistence fishing. The Alaska
Constitution is in conflict to a rural preference for
fishing. Should the state constitution be amended to
prevent a federal takeover?
Yes - No
- The Alaska State Constitution does not
allow for the dedication of taxes the state collects. All
taxes collected go into the General Fund of the state and
are then spent based upon the whim of the legislature.
House Joint Resolution 42 proposes an amendment to the
constitution for the creation of a dedicated highway
fund. Fuel taxes collected from fuel used in all motor
vehicles designed for and used on highways or roads shall
be placed in this highway fund. Money from this fund will
only be used for maintenance of roads and highways. Do
you feel that we should create such a fund?
Yes - No
- Today the markets are flooded with farmed
fish, we have record low prices for our salmon, and there
is an ever increasing demand by the sport fisherman for
more fish in the rivers. Because of this there has been
legislation introduced to do a state "buy-back"
program for commercial salmon limited entry permits,
vessels and gear. This legislation would fund the
buy-back program with two funding sources: 1. A surcharge
of $1 on each sport fishing license sold; 2. A surcharge
of 5% of the permit renewal fee on salmon entry permits
or interim-use permits. Would you support this buy-back
program that would reduce commercial fishing efforts?
Yes - No
If you have any additional comments or want to
expand on one of the above answers you have given, please attach
an additional sheet. Please mail this survey and any
correspondence to me at the State Capitol, Juneau, Alaska 99801.
Call toll free anytime. The number is 1-800-865-2487.
If there is more than one registered voter at
this address, please feel free to run copies of this survey and
send it in to us. Thanks