03/11/1993 01:00 PM House CRA

  MR. REEVES then said further, "As for the 75 cents versus 50                 
  cents, I can tell you the history of that change.                            
  Originally it was 50 cents only on the Senate side for SB
.  The municipality of Anchorage submitted 50 cents and, I                 
  believe, had indicated that they would not support the bill                  
  if it allowed for more than 50 cents.  Basically, the                        
  equipment and the system that we have to provide for 40,000                  
  people is identical to the system that Anchorage provides to                 
  its population so its the same cost except that we're a                      
  large geographic area...  It actually costs us more to                       
  provide the same 911 system that Anchorage provides.  So                     
  we're real concerned about having the 75 cents go back down                  
  to 50 cents for us."                                                         
                                                                               
  Number 343                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES said, "I'm a little bit puzzled as to                  
  why this language gives rise to those concerns;" and                         
  addressed the concerns in detail.  He said, "The fundamental                 
  concern that I have is that we don't get into a situation                    
  where one municipality effectively enacts a tax or surcharge                 
  on another municipality.  Having said that, under Title 29,                  
  any municipality may enter into a contract with another                      
  municipality which effectively delegates their authority to                  
  set that particular surcharge."                                              
                                                                               
  Number 364                                                                   
                                                                               
  MR. REEVES said, "My concern is that there's express                         
  language here that says the municipalities retain the power                  
  to set and amend the 911 surcharge...  I think we already                    
  have the authority that this amendment would provide.  When                  
  I look at this amendment, the only thing that I really see                   
  that stands out is that it says the municipalities, even if                  
  they contract cooperatively, will retain the power to set                    
  and amend the 911 surcharge...  I can certainly see a                        
  possibility that one of the cities would come back now and                   
  say, well, we have the power to set the surcharge."