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RUNNING OF THE BULLS
Mike McBride
(The following letter has already been widely distributed. If you agree with the message content, please consider doing two things:
It's time for everyone concerned with run-a-way government spending at all levels, to speak up and let your feelings be known! Call or write your elected representatives today!)
"Running of the Bulls!"
Every July during the Fiesta of San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain you can witness the "Running of the Bulls". In Juneau, Alaska each January we see special interest groups "Running for the Money". Both of these events can produce skinned knees, bruised egos, and other maladies. We must ask ourselves, "Why would any sane person participate in these activities"? Perhaps it's the hope of fame or fortune? Let's examine the Alaska case more closely.
Municipal leaders from all over Alaska are in Juneau presenting their "Legislative Priorities". These phone book sized documents are full of projects that someone wants, but are unwilling to pay for themselves. For too many years our legislature handed out "free money" to just about any smooth talking character that could get to Juneau and make a sales pitch. To date billions of our dollars have been given away, and of course, those on the receiving end don't want to see this payoff come to an end. The 22nd Legislature continued these give-a-way programs, but failed to pay for needed schools and transportation. We had to borrow money to pay for these projects!
What kinds of "Legislative Priorities" could possibly be more important to Alaskans than our education or transportation needs? To answer part of that question I picked up a copy of the new Kenai Peninsula Borough list from the Borough Clerk's office. What I found was over $735 million in legislative requests. Similar request will be presented by every municipality in Alaska, and the only cash resources big enough to pay this bill is our Permanent Fund or Constitutional Budget Reserve!
Some local examples include the Nikiski Fire Service Area Board which requested $475,000 to do site development at the Nikiski Community Center (a project which has never been approved by voters!). The North Peninsula Recreation Service Area has also requested $475,000 for the same project! At least these two boards are made up of people duly elected, which can be removed at a borough election. This is not true for a group called the North Peninsula Community Council. Like community councils around the state, these people are not elected during official borough elections, and therefore really don't represent anyone but their own self-interests. The North Peninsula group has requested in excess of $229 million for various projects, including $3.5 million for the same Nikiski Community Center mentioned two times above!
If you live in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, and your property tax bill goes up next year, consider where that money will go. Part of your new tax burden will be used to pay for all the new positions created by self-proclaimed conservative Borough Mayor Dale Bagley. Our property taxes are already being used to pay for two economic development departments, tourism and fish marketing programs, public transportation, a natural gas pipeline promoter, a private LIO exclusively for the borough's use, and all their related studies. The public will ultimately pay for their silence on these issues in the form of higher taxes to fund proposed construction, operation and maintenance cost required by the Arctic winter games, and these new community centers. Other boroughs around the state will be faced with tax increases to pay operating and maintenance cost for similar "free" projects.
If we were in a growing economy these questionable projects would not be such a big concern. There would be more people to share the cost of these new services and structures. Anyone in this area not wearing rose colored glasses can see more businesses closing every year, more foreclosures listed in the paper, fewer good paying jobs, and increasing taxes. The last remaining taxpayers will shoulder a huge tax burden. They will see first hand that growth in government programs and spending NEVER represents sustainable economic development.
Our elected officials must begin saying NO to requests from or for municipal assistance, corporate welfare, faith based initiatives, clubs, fraternities, business associations, chambers of commerce, the municipal league, individuals, political action committees, lobbyists, religious organizations, and everyone else with their hands out asking for OUR money! I'm sorry, but we have higher priorities for the limited money available. Personally I believe the quality of life in Alaska was much better BEFORE we had these "Legislative Priority" lists and all the bull that runs with them! Thank you.
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