Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska creating a highway fund and a harbor fund.

Updated: March 7, 2000

The adoption of House Joint Resolution 5 will allow the people of Alaska to vote for the opportunity to place a dedicated highway fund, marine highway fund and a dedicated harbor fund within the Alaska Constitution.

By establishing a dedicated fund, Alaska's citizens might be more inclined to accept an increase in the highway and marine fuel tax, if they knew the money would be spent specifically on the maintenance of our highways and harbor facilities.

All states dedicate motor fuel taxes, but states vary in whether the dedication is established by statute or constitution. In Alaska, AS 43.40.010 directs that revenues from motor fuel taxes shall be deposited in a special highway fuel tax account in the state general fund and that the legislature may appropriate funds from this account for transportation purposes. By placing this dedication in the constitution, all monies collected shall be mandated for maintenance.

Transportation is a fundamental component in society's infrastructure. A safe, viable and efficient transportation system provides a reliable corridor towards the other factors in a community's foundation. These other elements include public safety, educational opportunities, proper health care and economic growth. Proper maintenance on the transportation system ensures that all of these underpinnings of public policy will be given a fair chance of delivery and being achieved.

The maintenance portion of the Alaska Department of Transportation's budget has long been inadequately funded. This is evident across our state in the form of potholes, frost heaves, unsafe bridges, inadequate ditching that leads to flooding, little or no vegetation control, little or no sign maintenance and improper guardrail repair. In the wintertime it leads to a lack of snow removal in some areas and poor response times in other areas. It has also led to poor ice control, both on the highways and for the drainage structures, which exacerbates the conditions on the roadway. The stark reality is - people have died on the roadways of Alaska because of the lack of proper maintenance.

Although this dedication may not be enough by itself to fully fund the maintenance of our highways and harbors, it is a step in the right direction. The alternative is deferred maintenance which is considerably more expensive. As it is, the longevity baseline of some of Alaska's highways is uncertain. The lack of proper maintenance these last two decades will eventually cost the state far more than had it been done right the first time.

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