Dear District 18 Resident:

Things are moving pretty quickly down here in Juneau, as we tentatively expect session to end about April 20th. I just wanted to send a quick note about three issues about which I felt you should be informed.

First, the Alaska Railroad, working with the Federation of Community Councils, will hold a regional community council meeting on April 18th to discuss and answer questions about the planned Alaska Railroad station at the Anchorage Airport and the work to increase capacity between Klatt Road and the airport. The meeting will take place at Taku Elementary from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. For more information, please e-mail or call Wendy Lindskoog, Alaska Railroad's Director of External Affairs, at lindskoogw@akrr.com, or 265-2498.

The second issue is that of University funding. As you may have read or seen on the news over the past few days, HB 441 has been moving quickly through the House. HB 441 proposes to fund the entire University system budget for the next two years from the Constitutional Budget Reserve (CBR), and includes the University President's request for a $16.9 million increase for each of the next two years. HB 441 uses the CBR as the source of the funding, so two separate votes are required -- one simple majority to pass the bill, and a three-fourths vote to use the CBR to fund it. HB 441 was voted on in the House today. I voted for it on both votes, because investment in the University is important. However, while HB 441 passed by a vote of 38-2, it did not achieve the required 3/4 vote on using the CBR as the source of the funding. That vote was 28-12. As you may be aware, the CBR is the state's savings account, from which the Legislature may draw funds to balance the budget, and which the Legislature's financial advisors predict will be empty in just a few years if we are not able to balance the state budget. It is my opinion that if HB 441 is funded, it will be difficult to say we've cut state funding this year. The CBR vote may be revisited before the end of session.

The third issue is an update on the movement of my bill, HB 133, which would require that the residents of any Local Road Service Area (LRSA) would have to agree before the LRSA could be changed, abolished, or formed, notwithstanding what the rest of a municipality voted. HB 133 passed out of the Senate State Affairs Committee on February 22nd. It has had one hearing in the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee on Monday. Some small municipalities had concerns about the bill, and the chair, Senator Tim Kelly, held it in committee. I hope that HB 133 will be heard again today, with those concerns having been addressed. The next committee referral is Senate Finance.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about these or any other topics before the Legislature, please contact me. I will be happy to assist you.

Sincerely,

Con

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.

| Top | Representative Bunde's Page |