An Act relating to state aid to municipalities, certain unincorporated communities, and certain other recipients; relating to the municipal revenue sharing program; and providing for an effective date.

Prepared by: Senate Finance/Senator Torgerson
Updated: April 15, 1999

This bill provides for payments to municipalities for basic local government services. The government services and payment schedules are:

• ROADS: Municipalities that maintain gravel or paved roads will receive $1,200 per mile.
  
  Local road maintenance is a problem for both the local government official and the state elected official. Many local roads are driven by Alaskans from other areas, not just local residents. Complaints about potholes are directed to state elected officials - not just members of the city council. Drivers facing winter's icy road conditions are not interested in which government entity provides maintenance - they just want it to be maintained for their safety. Local road maintenance is an issue for all of Alaska.
  
  
• FIRE: Municipalities or communities that have a registered fire department will receive $5.00 per capita of the area served.
  
  Fire departments in Alaska provide services which range from urban, special-purpose activities like dismantling explosive devices to more standardized services of responding to residential dwelling fires. Despite the range of service, they all provide a basic service to the residents of Alaska - safety. Across Alaska, people depend upon the men and women of these departments, many of whom are volunteers, to protect their family and their property from fire.
  
  
• EMS: Municipalities or communities that have an organization certified to provide emergency medical services will receive $5.00 per capita of the area served.
  
  Emergency medical service organizations provide a critical human service to all Alaskans. They are the first responders to accidents in the home or to a vehicle collision on a state highway. These Alaskans, in many case volunteers, provide this service out of compassion for their fellow human beings and commitment to their communities. A basic service is provided to Alaskans, who depend on them for their very lives.
  
  

The bill also establishes a minimum payment of $35,000 for municipalities. Many smaller municipalities depend upon a payment from the state in order to keep the doors of local government open- they simply do not have a sufficient tax base to support the basic government operation. Yet those local governments provide a basic level of service to their residents. The State of Alaska has made commitments to support those smaller government units. This bill continues to honor those commitments, which affect almost two-thirds of the municipalities in the State of Alaska. It is in the best interests of the State to see that those municipalities continue to operate.

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