1990-22 Requesting that the Senate Amend SRJ 5 and that the Legislature Provide for Protection, Equity and Fairness for Programs that Affect Municipalities and Local Taxpayers in Adopting a Spending Limit Resolution.By: Mayor Selby
Introduced: 03/15/90
Adopted: 03/15/90
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
RESOLUTION NO. 90-22
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE SENATE AMEND SJR 5 AND
THAT THE LEGISLATURE PROVIDE FOR PROTECTION, EQUITY AND FAIRNESS
FOR PROGRAMS THAT AFFECT MUNICIPALITIES AND LOCAL TAXPAYERS
IN ADOPTING A SPENDING LIMIT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Senate, by a vote of 15-5, has passed SJR
5 calling for a public vote to amend the Constitution and impose
a state spending limit of $2.3 billion in FY 92 and cuts of one
percent per year in FY 93 through FY 96; and
WHEREAS, SJR 5 is up for reconsideration on Tuesday,
March 6, 1990; and
WHEREAS, SJR 5 makes no provision for protecting programs
which allow municipalities to provide services to Alaskans while
holding down local tax increases; and
WHEREAS, SJR 5 does not exclude priority school
construction from the limit; and
WHEREAS, HB 37 ended the state reimbursement program for
new debt but requires adequate state funding to provide for
education facilities in the future; and
WHEREAS, SJR 5 proposes not only to limit spending but
also to decrease spending by one percent a year for four years; and
WHEREAS, SJR 5 has no provision for increases in
population, inflation, new state programs, or new federal mandates
on both the state and local governments resulting in additional
pressure on current programs; and
Resolution No. 90-22
Page 1 of 3
WHEREAS, the House of Representatives is considering
legislation to also impose a constitutional spending limit; and
WHEREAS, the proposed legislation provides no protection
from insignificant cuts in any one year or continued
disproportionate cuts to programs critical to municipalities and
their taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, the State is not projected to experience a
financial emergency during the life of the limit; and
WHEREAS, mechanisms are in place to adjust state
expenditures and revenues including the constitutional prohibition
on deficit spending for operations; the Legislature's power to
appropriate; the Governor's ability to veto; a statutory spending
limit under AS 37.05.540; and
WHEREAS, municipalities are legitimate partners with the
State in sharing public resource and other state revenues to
provide services to Alaskans; and
WHEREAS, the limit may require across the board or
disproportionate cuts in state department programs critical to
municipalities and their citizens; and
WHEREAS, pass-through or reimbursement programs critical
to municipalities such as municipal assistance, revenue sharing,
mandated local property tax exemptions, and school debt
reimbursement have received disproportionate cuts in the past
without significant political repercussions to legislators;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the AML Board of
Directors in expressing its concern for the potential negative
impacts on municipalities and local taxpayers urges the Senate to
amend SJR 5 to:
Resolution No. 90-22
Page 2 of 3
1. exclude school debt reimbursement and priority one and
priority two schools from the spending limit; and
2. to amend SJR 5 to provide for an adjustment for increases
in population and inflation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be sent to
members of the Alaska State Senate, members of the Alaska House of
Representatives and Governor Cowper.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 15th DAY OF MARCH, 1990.
ATTEST:
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
BoS ugh Mayor,
r siding Officer
Resolution No. 90-22
Page 3 of 3