Legislature(2007 - 2008)HOUSE FINANCE 519

02/29/2008 01:30 PM House FINANCE


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01:51:18 PM Start
01:51:25 PM SB72 || SB72
03:38:37 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
+= SB 72 COMMUNITY REVENUE SHARING TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+= HB 313 G.O. BONDS FOR CRIME LAB TELECONFERENCED
<Bill Hearing Canceled>
                  HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                     February 29, 2008                                                                                          
                         1:51 p.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Chenault called the House  Finance Committee meeting                                                                   
to order at 1:51:18 PM.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative Mike Chenault, Co-Chair                                                                                          
Representative Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair                                                                                            
Representative Bill Stoltze, Vice-Chair                                                                                         
Representative Les Gara                                                                                                         
Representative Mike Hawker                                                                                                      
Representative Reggie Joule                                                                                                     
Representative Mike Kelly                                                                                                       
Representative Mary Nelson                                                                                                      
Representative Bill Thomas Jr.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative John Harris                                                                                                      
Representative Harry Crawford                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Jeremy Woodrow, Communications  Coordinator, Alaska Municipal                                                                   
League; David  Teal, Director, Legislative  Finance Division:                                                                   
Tom  Wright,  Staff, Representative  Chenault  Bill  Rolfson,                                                                   
Department of Commerce                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Walt Wrede, City Manager, City  of Homer; Lynne Woods, Deputy                                                                   
Mayor,  Mat-Su Borough;  Dave  Talerico,  Denali Mayor;  Bill                                                                   
Allen,  City Manager,  Palmer; Glen Gardner,  Mayor,  City of                                                                   
Sand Point;  Kay Andrews,  Secretary/Treasurer of  Aleknagik;                                                                   
Ron Woolf, Chief  Financial Officer, City of  Fairbanks; Luke                                                                   
Hopkins, Assembly  and Alaska Municipal League  Board Member,                                                                   
Fairbanks  North Star Borough,;  Scott Brandt-Erichsen,  City                                                                   
Attorney, Ketchikan Gateway Borough;  Ferdinand Sharp, Mayor,                                                                   
Manokotak;  Jerome  Selby,  Mayor,   Kodiak  Island  Borough;                                                                   
Carolyn  Floyd, Mayor,  City  of Kodiak;  Jennifer  Johnston,                                                                   
Assembly  Member,  Anchorage;  Chris Klabunde,  City  Council                                                                   
Member, City  of Dillingham; James  Hornaday, Mayor,  City of                                                                   
Homer                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SB 72                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act relating to the community revenue sharing                                                                     
          program; and providing for an effective date."                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
          SB 72 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further                                                                     
          consideration.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:51:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 72                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the community revenue sharing                                                                          
     program; and providing for an effective date."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Meyer  announced  that public  testimony  would  be                                                                   
taken first from the communities.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:52:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JEREMY WOODROW, COMMUNICATIONS  COORDINATOR, ALASKA MUNICIPAL                                                                   
LEAGUE, presented a PowerPoint  program on the application of                                                                   
revenue  sharing  funds  by  communities  (Community  Revenue                                                                   
Sharing: How Communities Use Their  Share, copy on file). Mr.                                                                   
Woodrow began  with a slide illustrating revenue  sharing for                                                                   
the last  twenty years  (Historic Revenue  Sharing Tools,  p.                                                                   
2).  He remarked  that  in  1985, the  communities  received,                                                                   
through  revenue sharing,  approximately  $140 million.  This                                                                   
amount has  been steadily decreasing.  He indicated  that the                                                                   
asterisks,  beside 2004  through  2007,  were funds  received                                                                   
called "revenue sharing", but  they were not "titled" revenue                                                                   
sharing  funds. Mr. Woodrow  cited that  the Legislature  and                                                                   
the Governor reinstated  revenue sharing at $48  million. Mr.                                                                   
Woodrow  began the  review  of the  communities'  use of  the                                                                   
revenue sharing  money by first referencing  the Municipality                                                                   
of  Anchorage   (Municipality  of   Anchorage,  p.   4).  The                                                                   
Municipality of Anchorage received  approximately $13 million                                                                   
which was used  for property tax relief. He  pointed out that                                                                   
the average single family home  in Anchorage, in FY 07, saved                                                                   
$389  with  the  revenue  sharing that  resulted  in  a  $1.2                                                                   
million  reduction in  overall  property  taxes. Each  family                                                                   
received a Green Card (Municipality  of Anchorage, p. 5) that                                                                   
reflected  the  taxes  with  and  without  the  property  tax                                                                   
relief.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:55:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Woodrow quoted Mayor Mark Begich of Anchorage:                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     For the last two years, Anchorage has used its revenue                                                                     
     sharing to lower property taxes for Anchorage                                                                              
     residents. The Assembly and  I remain committed to using                                                                   
     any revenue  sharing funds again this year  for property                                                                   
     tax reduction" (Municipality of Anchorage, p. 6).                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Woodrow   commented  that  Anchorage,  as   the  largest                                                                   
municipality  in the  state, received  the  largest share  of                                                                   
revenue.  Mr.  Woodrow  proceeded  to  the  Matanuska-Susitna                                                                   
Borough  (Mat-Su), which  received over  $3 million  used for                                                                   
property tax  relief (Matanuska-Susitna  Borough, p.  7). Mr.                                                                   
Woodrow  showed  that  in  FY  08,  revenue  sharing  reduced                                                                   
property taxes by more than half  a million dollars. The Mat-                                                                   
Su  district  resident  received a  brochure  entitled  "Your                                                                   
Property Tax  Dollars" (Matanuska-Susitna Borough,  p. 8). He                                                                   
indicated  on  the slide,  circled  in  red, the  Tax  Relief                                                                   
amount.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:56:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Woodrow quoted Mayor Curt Menard:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     For  us  in  the  Mat-Su,   revenue  sharing  means  our                                                                   
     citizens paid less in property taxes.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Woodrow  cited that the  Haines Borough used  its revenue                                                                   
sharing  money  differently  (Haines  Borough,  p.  10).  The                                                                   
Haines Borough  received $355,279 which was  used to increase                                                                   
school  funding. Mr.  Woodrow  remarked that,  for the  first                                                                   
time,  one of the  seventeen boroughs  in the  state hired  a                                                                   
full-time   maintenance   position    to   address   deferred                                                                   
maintenance.  Mr.  Woodrow  quoted   Borough  Manager  Robert                                                                   
Venables:                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     This fiscal  year Haines was able to-for  the very first                                                                   
     time,  establish a full-time  maintenance position  that                                                                   
     will help  us address the years of  deferred maintenance                                                                   
     problems  and "band-aid  fixes"  throughout  all of  our                                                                   
     facilities.  This will save  the taxpayers in  many ways                                                                   
     both now  and in the future.  Also, after many  years of                                                                   
     flat-funding  for   our  school  district,   the  Haines                                                                   
     Borough  was able  to increase its  contribution  to the                                                                   
     school  with its  funds  from revenue  sharing.  (Haines                                                                   
     Borough, p. 11)                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:58:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Woodrow revealed  that the City of Saint  Paul used their                                                                   
$96,610  in funding  to purchase  fuel and  to provide  basic                                                                   
services to the community (City of Saint Paul, p. 12).                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:58:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Woodrow quoted the City Clerk Phyllis Swetzof:                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     The City of  St. Paul used all of their  Revenue Sharing                                                                   
     money from the State of Alaska to pay their fuel bill.                                                                     
     (City of Saint Paul, p. 13)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Woodrow declared that the  Kenai Peninsula Borough funded                                                                   
education  at   the  CAP  with  their  $1.7   million  (Kenai                                                                   
Peninsula Borough,  p. 14). Mr. Woodrow elaborated  that this                                                                   
provided another way to reduce  property taxes; it simply did                                                                   
not increase  them. Mr.  Woodrow quoted  the Borough  Finance                                                                   
Director Craig Chapman:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
The  Kenai   Peninsula  Borough  used  the   Revenue  Sharing                                                                   
received from the State of Alaska  during FY 2008 to continue                                                                   
its practice of  funding education at the cap.  Without these                                                                   
funds, the Borough's mill rate  would have needed to increase                                                                   
.33 mills,  to continue funding  education at the  cap (Kenai                                                                   
Peninsula Borough, p. 15)                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:00:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Woodrow  remarked that the  City of Gustavus, one  of the                                                                   
smaller  communities in  Southeast  Alaska, received  $95,718                                                                   
which  was used  to support  basic services  and offset  high                                                                   
energy costs  (City of Gustavus,  p. 16). Mr.  Woodrow quoted                                                                   
Mayor Ken Klawunder:                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     The  City of Gustavus  used their  Revenue Sharing  from                                                                   
     the State  of Alaska to  offset their high  energy costs                                                                   
     and  to help  support  all city  services  such as:  our                                                                   
     library; our fire department;  our EMS squad; our health                                                                   
     clinic and our City Hall.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:00:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Woodrow talked  about the Denali Borough's  $321.219 that                                                                   
was used to fund fire and emergency  medical services to over                                                                   
one hundred  miles of the  Parks Highway (Denali  Borough, p.                                                                   
18). Mr. Woodrow quoted Mayor David Talerico:                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     The Denali Borough budget  for '08 included $271,589 for                                                                   
     local fire/EMS and the lion's  share of that is spent on                                                                   
     visitors including response  along over 100 miles of the                                                                   
     Parks Highway (Denali Borough, p. 19)                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Woodrow reflected that Denali's  use of their funds is an                                                                   
example  of   revenue  sharing   not  just  assisting   local                                                                   
communities  but   also  visitors  to  Alaska.   Mr.  Woodrow                                                                   
expressed the  Alaska Municipal  League (AML) thanks  for the                                                                   
legislature's  support   addressing  revenue  sharing   as  a                                                                   
statewide  issue.   He  stressed  that  the   AML  urges  the                                                                   
Committee  to  adopt SB  72  with  an  Annual Payout  of  $75                                                                   
million  by  increasing  the Revenue  Sharing  Fund  to  $225                                                                   
million.  He commented  that  the Revenue  Sharing,  combined                                                                   
with education  funding and the  PERS/TRS fix, is  a positive                                                                   
step   to   building  sustainable   communities   in   Alaska                                                                   
(Conclusion, p. 20).                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:02:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Gara  inquired   if  the  minimum  amount  is                                                                   
$20,000 for  a community. Mr.  Woodrow answered  that $20,000                                                                   
was  designated for  a smaller  community,  not a  city or  a                                                                   
borough.  Representative  Gara wondered  if  this caused  any                                                                   
concern  to the  smaller  communities. Mr.  Woodrow  admitted                                                                   
that not  much can  be achieved with  $20,000 but  the amount                                                                   
was  set  to  give  incentives   for  communities  to  become                                                                   
organized  communities.  Representative  Gara asked  for  the                                                                   
names  of the  unorganized communities  in  the Bethel  area.                                                                   
Representative   Nelson  listed   a  number  of   unorganized                                                                   
communities but  she remarked that  there is no  incentive to                                                                   
become  organized  if  it  only   creates  another  layer  of                                                                   
government to fund.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:04:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Gara  thought that $20,000 appeared  very low.                                                                   
Mr.  Woodrow  remarked  that  the  communities  would  always                                                                   
welcome  more  funding. Representative  Meyer  remarked  that                                                                   
smaller  villages  have  commented that  $20,000  provides  a                                                                   
great  help  in  offsetting  fuel   costs  and  city  service                                                                   
expenditures.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:05:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WALT  WREDE,  CITY  MANAGER, CITY  OF  HOMER  (Testified  via                                                                   
teleconference),  supported SB  72 with  the increase  in the                                                                   
revenue sharing  fund to $225  million and the  annual payout                                                                   
of  $75  million  as proposed  by  the  Governor.  Mr.  Wrede                                                                   
mentioned  that  Homer  used its  revenue  sharing  funds  as                                                                   
matching  money that  the  council had  set  aside for  fleet                                                                   
depreciation  and  a new  fire  truck. He  expressed  Homer's                                                                   
thank you to the legislature.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:06:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LYNNE  WOODS, DEPUTY  MAYOR,  MAT-SU BOROUGH  (Testified  via                                                                   
teleconference),  supported SB  72 with  the increase  in the                                                                   
revenue sharing  fund to $225  million and the  annual payout                                                                   
of  $75  million  as proposed  by  the  Governor.  Ms.  Woods                                                                   
believed  the legislation  is set  up to  be sustainable  and                                                                   
equable  in  its  distribution.  She  remarked  that  the  $3                                                                   
million received last year allowed  the community to maintain                                                                   
the mill  levy and  fund the  school budget  to the  previous                                                                   
year's  level.  She stressed  that  the senior  and  disabled                                                                   
veterans'  exception  was $20,000  short  of  $6 million  and                                                                   
these local residents  need the services that  the borough is                                                                   
providing. Ms. Woods  observed that the money  also helps the                                                                   
ten to twelve years  olds by not putting a  greater burden on                                                                   
the school district for building and operating the schools.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:08:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVE TALERICO,  DENALI MAYOR (Testified via  teleconference),                                                                   
supported the Senate Committee  substitute and encouraged the                                                                   
increase  to  $225 million  with  the  annual payout  of  $75                                                                   
million.  Mr.  Talercio noted  that  the money  could  expand                                                                   
services in the growing Denali  community for both locals and                                                                   
the  large  visitor  industry.  The  funding  also  helps  to                                                                   
provide  better  fire  protection  and  other  infrastructure                                                                   
needs.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:09:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BILL   ALLEN,    CITY   MANAGER,   PALMER    (Testified   via                                                                   
teleconference), supported SB  72 and encouraged the increase                                                                   
to $225  million with  the annual payout  of $75  million. He                                                                   
noted that  the community worked  hard to maintain  the level                                                                   
of services  that the  community deserves.  He believed  that                                                                   
the rural  communities have been  diminishing over  the years                                                                   
and  the  Palmer  region  is  seeing  a  migration  of  rural                                                                   
residents,  placing a larger  demand on  the costs  for local                                                                   
services.  Mr. Allen contended  that the  rural migration  to                                                                   
Palmer  has increased  crime, social issues,  and the  demand                                                                   
for city  services. Representative  Gara questioned  where it                                                                   
is mentioned in the bill that  there will be an annual payout                                                                   
of  $75   million,  and   wondered  how   that  formula   was                                                                   
determined. Co-Chair Meyer responded  that the Senate changed                                                                   
the amount, as proposed by the  Governor, to $75 million over                                                                   
a  three  year  period.  Co-Chair  Meyer  remarked  that  the                                                                   
present  appropriation,  of  $150 million,  will  provide  at                                                                   
least $50  million to be paid  out for the next  three years.                                                                   
When the  price of  oil reaches  a certain  level, it  is re-                                                                   
appropriated  to refill  the fund.  Co-chair Meyer  specified                                                                   
that the  $75 million  figure was  not actually available  at                                                                   
this  time;  the  amount  has   only  been  proposed  by  the                                                                   
Governor.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:13:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Gara   inquired  if  the  Senate   bill  read                                                                   
differently from the House version.  Co-Chair Meyer responded                                                                   
that the  Governor had proposed  $75 million revenue  sharing                                                                   
program    similar   to   last    year's   capital    budget.                                                                   
Representative  Gara inquired if  the Senate version  was the                                                                   
Governor's  version. Co-Chair  Meyer  responded  that it  was                                                                   
different and remarked that David  Teal would explain how the                                                                   
three   year   program  would   work.   Representative   Gara                                                                   
questioned  if the  $75  million was  ever  mentioned in  any                                                                   
version of the bill. Representative  Meyer responded that the                                                                   
governor's proposal is only for  one year; the Senate bill is                                                                   
proposing at least three years.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:15:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
GLEN  GARDNER,  MAYOR,  CITY OF  SAND  POINT  (Testified  via                                                                   
teleconference),  supported SB 72  with the increase  to $225                                                                   
million and  the annual payout  of $75 million.  He explained                                                                   
that the  money is very  crucial to the  City of  Sand Point,                                                                   
especially with low fish taxes,  the rising costs of fuel and                                                                   
insurance costs that  are all taking larger  amounts from the                                                                   
decreasing budget  dollars. Mr.  Gardner emphasized  that the                                                                   
revenue  sharing  funding  is  needed for  the  community  to                                                                   
provide basic services.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:16:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Gara questioned  Mayor Gardner what the effect                                                                   
to Sand  Point would be  if there was  the $225  million with                                                                   
$75 million payout.  Mr. Gardner said they would  be affected                                                                   
because last year they received $116,000.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:16:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KAY ANDREWS, SECRETARY/TREASURER  OF ALEKNAGIK (Testified via                                                                   
teleconference),  supported SB 72  with the increase  to $225                                                                   
million and  the annual  payout of  $75 million. She  thanked                                                                   
the   committee  for   sharing  the   revenue  with   smaller                                                                   
communities.  Ms.  Andrews  commented   that  last  year  the                                                                   
community received  $86,000; $50,000  was used for  fuel with                                                                   
the remainder being  used to purchase a copier,  fund general                                                                   
administration and provide for  other services. If the amount                                                                   
were to increase to the Governor's  suggestion, the community                                                                   
could employ a  planning director to help address  and better                                                                   
serve the residents of the community.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:20:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RON  WOOLF,  CHIEF  FINANCIAL   OFFICER,  CITY  OF  FAIRBANKS                                                                   
(Testified via teleconference),  supported SB 72 with revenue                                                                   
sharing  fund of $225  million  and an annual  payout of  $75                                                                   
million. Mr. Woolf reported that  the cost of energy was very                                                                   
high  and not  enough  had been  budgeted  to meet  community                                                                   
needs. Mr.  Woolf mentioned that  a large part  of Fairbank's                                                                   
revenue  sharing funding  would  go to  capital  improvement,                                                                   
specifically,  street  repairs.  Mr. Woolf  noted  that  when                                                                   
revenue sharing ended  a few years ago, Fairbanks  was forced                                                                   
to lay-off eight  key positions and, without  the new revenue                                                                   
distribution, he foresaw similar problems.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:21:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LUKE  HOPKINS, ASSEMBLY  AND  ALASKA MUNICIPAL  LEAGUE  BOARD                                                                   
MEMBER,  FAIRBANKS   NORTH  STAR   BOROUGH,  (Testified   via                                                                   
teleconference),  supported SB 72  with the increase  to $225                                                                   
million  and  the  $75 million  annual  payout.  Mr.  Hopkins                                                                   
commented  that  the local  community  has been  impacted  by                                                                   
rising fuel and electric needs.  The revenue sharing fund has                                                                   
helped offset this cost for the residents.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:23:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SCOTT  BRANDT-ERICHSEN,  CITY   ATTORNEY,  KETCHIKAN  GATEWAY                                                                   
BOROUGH (Testified via teleconference),  supported SB 72 with                                                                   
the increase to  $225 million and the $75 million  payout. He                                                                   
explained that  this would be  a six percent increase  to the                                                                   
community.  The  community  of  Ketchikan has  been  able  to                                                                   
reduce  the  local  mill  levy by  $.4  million  and  support                                                                   
education funding.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:27:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Thomas  asked   Mr.  Brandt-Erichsen  if  the                                                                   
Alaska  Municipal League  tallied  the amount  of money  that                                                                   
this legislative  body is giving  to the municipalities.  Mr.                                                                   
Brandt-Erichsen  responded  that   Mr.  Woodrow  presented  a                                                                   
PowerPoint presentation at the  beginning of the meeting that                                                                   
identified,  in 2007,  $18  million in  PERS  relief and  $48                                                                   
million  to  offset  rising energy  cost  impacts.  The  last                                                                   
municipal   league  had   pointed  out   that  there   are  a                                                                   
significant  number of  second class  cities not involved  in                                                                   
the  PERS/TERS  system.  The state  and  some  municipalities                                                                   
benefited   from   the   PERS/TERS,   but   since   not   all                                                                   
municipalities are  part of the system, there  were some that                                                                   
did not see  any benefits. Mr. Brandt-Erichsen  stressed that                                                                   
all municipalities have benefited from revenue sharing.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:28:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
FERDINAND    SHARP,   MAYOR,    MANOKOTAK   (Testified    via                                                                   
teleconference),  supported SB  72 with  the increase  to the                                                                   
$225 million  and the  $75 million  annual appropriation.  He                                                                   
remarked that a  good portion of the revenue  sharing is used                                                                   
to offset the high cost of electricity  and energy, including                                                                   
street  lights. The  revenue  sharing is  also  used to  help                                                                   
budget heavy equipment operators  for snow removal and school                                                                   
bus  up keep.  Mayor Manokotak  mentioned  that locally  they                                                                   
have a  sales tax  of two  percent which  put $16,000  toward                                                                   
fuel and gas.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:32:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JEROME  SELBY, MAYOR,  KODIAK ISLAND  BOROUGH (Testified  via                                                                   
teleconference),  supported SB  72 with  the increase  to the                                                                   
$225 million  and the  $75 million  annual appropriation.  He                                                                   
appreciated the  hard work of  the committee and  the funding                                                                   
that has  helped the  communities. He  stressed that  the six                                                                   
percent increase request was not  an arbitrary figure but the                                                                   
minimum  amount determined  to  run a  small community.  This                                                                   
money  will keep  the communities  sustainable  for a  longer                                                                   
period  and  promote  new  opportunities  for  the  community                                                                   
rather than just remain at a sustainable level.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:36:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CAROLYN  FLOYD,   MAYOR,  CITY   OF  KODIAK  (Testified   via                                                                   
teleconference),  supported SB 72  with the increase  of $225                                                                   
million and  the annual payout  of $75 million.  She stressed                                                                   
that revenue sharing  funding is very important  in deferring                                                                   
energy costs.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:37:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JENNIFER JOHNSTON, ASSEMBLY MEMBER,  ANCHORAGE (Testified via                                                                   
teleconference),  supported SB 72  with the increase  of $225                                                                   
million  and the  annual payout  of $75  million. This  money                                                                   
allows for property tax relief for the local community.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:38:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHRIS  KLABUNDE,  CITY  COUNCIL MEMBER,  CITY  OF  DILLINGHAM                                                                   
(Testified  via teleconference),  supported  SB  72 with  the                                                                   
increase  of  $225  million  and the  annual  payout  of  $75                                                                   
million.  He declared  the  proposed  funding  was needed  to                                                                   
offset the rising costs of fuel  freight, and transportation.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:40:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JAMES  HORNADAY,   MAYOR,  CITY   OF  HOMER  (Testified   via                                                                   
teleconference),  supported SB 72  with the increase  of $225                                                                   
million and  the annual payout  of $75 million.  He expressed                                                                   
that the  citizens  of Homer pay  there fair  share in  local                                                                   
taxes but the funding has helped  in fuel costs, purchasing a                                                                   
fire truck and other community needs.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:41:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer questioned if there  were any others online or                                                                   
in-house who  would like to  testify, and being  none, closed                                                                   
the public testimony.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
AT EASE: 2:42:18 PM                                                                                                           
RECONVENED: 2:48:20 PM                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:48:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer signified that  David Teal would be presenting                                                                   
a  model  for how  revenue  funding  distributions  would  be                                                                   
effected using different numbers.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
DAVID   TEAL,   DIRECTOR,   LEGISLATIVE   FINANCE   DIVISION,                                                                   
presented  a model and  explained how  the Senate arrived  at                                                                   
the provisions for  this bill. He noted that,  last year, $49                                                                   
million  was  distributed throughout  the  communities;  this                                                                   
year the number was rounded to  $50 million. The amount for a                                                                   
borough,  $250,000 last  year,  was bumped  to $300,000  this                                                                   
year. As the  base amount changes, the borough  amount, being                                                                   
floating,  reflect other  base changes.  Mr. Teal showed  the                                                                   
changes  from  last  year's  bill to  this  year's  bill.  He                                                                   
explained that while the communities  may lose a small amount                                                                   
of money, the boroughs  are up slightly due to  the base rate                                                                   
rising.   If  the  base   rose  to   $5,500,000,  the   small                                                                   
communities would become winners.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:52:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Teal manipulated the figures  for the legislators to show                                                                   
how different amounts  of base money would change  the payout                                                                   
to communities  and boroughs.  He showed  that when  money is                                                                   
added to the distributed amount,  the borough base floats up.                                                                   
Because  the base  floats, all  the  communities continue  to                                                                   
receive the  same amount that  they received the  prior year.                                                                   
Mr. Teal told  the legislature they might want  to experiment                                                                   
with the amount of money put into  the program, decide on the                                                                   
borough base, and  then, if the money declines  as oil prices                                                                   
fall, observe the impact on the communities.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:54:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Meyer asked  what would  happen if  the money  fell                                                                   
below  $50 million.  Mr.  Teal explained  that,  if oil  fell                                                                   
below $60  a barrel,  the first year  of $50 million  payouts                                                                   
would  be  distributed,  but without  any  surcharge  revenue                                                                   
coming in, the following year  the fund balance would fall to                                                                   
$100  million with  a distribution  of one  third making  the                                                                   
distribution  amount $33  million.  The  borough base,  being                                                                   
floating,  would now fall  to $220,000  and city bases  would                                                                   
fall  as well.  Co-Chair  Meyer commented  that  there was  a                                                                   
handout available that illustrated  when the price of oil was                                                                   
at a  certain level,  twenty percent of  the amount  would be                                                                   
taken for  revenue sharing, and  then it would show  how much                                                                   
would  be available  for  appropriation.  He explained  that,                                                                   
even if the price of oil were  to fall below $60 a barrel for                                                                   
the next three years, there would  still be three years worth                                                                   
of revenue  sharing at $50  million. He concluded  this would                                                                   
give the communities time and notice to make adjustments.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:56:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Teal added that as the program  begins to fade out to $33                                                                   
million, the borough  base is $220,000, but  the calculation,                                                                   
if  it were  free to  float with  no  restrictions; the  base                                                                   
would then  be $198,000. He explained  that this is  why some                                                                   
communities  would  receive  a different  portion.  Mr.  Teal                                                                   
continued that if the base floats,  using $160,000 as a base,                                                                   
then the free  floating base of $198,000 is  distributed then                                                                   
all communities receive  the same amount as  before. The base                                                                   
determines the  amount that goes  to the smaller  communities                                                                   
and the  boroughs.  Every dollar  put into  the base is  less                                                                   
money to be  distributed by population, therefore  the larger                                                                   
the  number,  the  distribution   leans  toward  the  smaller                                                                   
communities at the expense of the urban centers.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:57:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer requested  that Mr. Teal show  the numbers for                                                                   
Anchorage  at the  $50  million payout  and  the $75  million                                                                   
payout.   Mr. Teal responded  that at $50 million,  Anchorage                                                                   
would receive  $13.5 million; at  $75 million, with  the base                                                                   
floating to  $450,000, Anchorage  would receive $20  million.                                                                   
This remains  twenty seven percent.  He specified  that under                                                                   
the Governor's  proposal, the  base is  not floating,  so the                                                                   
base  would be  $250,000; Anchorage  share then  goes to  $25                                                                   
million or  thirty four  percent of  the total. The  Governor                                                                   
did not build up  the base when more money was  added, so the                                                                   
distribution  is heavily weighted  toward the urban  centers.                                                                   
Co-Chair  Meyer  remarked  that   the  floating  base  really                                                                   
impacts the numbers.  Co-chair Meyer requested  that Mr. Teal                                                                   
take the base from $300,000 to $320,000.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:00:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Teal  responded  that  if the  base  rose  to  $320,000,                                                                   
Anchorage would receive $13 million.  This becomes twenty six                                                                   
percent of the totals instead of twenty seven percent.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:01:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Meyer  asked  if  the last  column  of  Mr.  Teal's                                                                   
figures indicated  the PERS contribution. Mr.  Teal responded                                                                   
that   Anchorage  would   receive   $20   million  for   PERS                                                                   
assistance, thirty nine percent of the PERS total.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:01:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Gara  remarked  that  he sees  a  problem  of                                                                   
disappearing  revenue sharing.  He questioned  if the  CAP of                                                                   
$50 million  would be higher if  the oil prices  were higher.                                                                   
Co-Chair Meyer responded  that it states in the  bill that if                                                                   
the amount falls  below $50 million, the money  will still be                                                                   
distributed  at  one  third of  whatever  remains.  Mr.  Teal                                                                   
agreed but believed that Representative  Gara did not want to                                                                   
look on downside, but the upside  of oil being higher. If oil                                                                   
remains  at  $90, with  multimillion  dollar  surpluses,  the                                                                   
amount  remains   at  $50  million  but,  in   the  law,  the                                                                   
legislature  could appropriate  more.  The $50  million is  a                                                                   
minimum revenue sharing amount.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:03:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Gara  wondered about the logic  of keeping the                                                                   
amount at  $50 million, no matter  how high the price  of oil                                                                   
rises. Co-Chair  Meyer believed  that the  $50 million  was a                                                                   
minimum,   so  more  money   can  be   appropriated   if  the                                                                   
legislature  chooses. Representative  Gara  thought the  bill                                                                   
unnecessary  if the legislature  was going  to appropriate  a                                                                   
different amount each year.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:04:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Stoltze  explained that  this might be  looking at                                                                   
sustainability,  predictability,  and the  downward curve  on                                                                   
production.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:05:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Thomas  remarked that if $50  million is spent                                                                   
this year, and  next year being another high  oil price year,                                                                   
and another $250  million is put in the account,  he believed                                                                   
it important  to put  a cap  on the  municipality amounts  to                                                                   
prevent reckless spending.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:06:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Teal  pointed out  that if $250  million were  plugged in                                                                   
the budget it  would increase the distribution  by one third.                                                                   
Representative Thomas  asked if it  would be possible  to put                                                                   
language in the bill to not exceed $75 million.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:06:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer remarked  that there could be  an amendment to                                                                   
make the  maximum amount to  be distributed $75  million, not                                                                   
to exceed one third of amount of fund.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:07:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Teal  agreed  that  an  amendment  is  easy  but  public                                                                   
testimony emphasized the $225  million with the payout of $75                                                                   
million.  In order  to sustain  the $75  million payout,  the                                                                   
bill would have  to be amended to say that twenty  percent of                                                                   
the revenue  would not exceed  $75 million as opposed  to $50                                                                   
million.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:08:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Kelly  remarked  that   he  would   be  more                                                                   
comfortable  with a  ten year  projection of  oil prices  and                                                                   
budgets.  He pointed  out that  the Prudhoe  curve is  moving                                                                   
down below 700,000 barrels this  year, but budgets are rising                                                                   
by fifteen  percent each  year. He remarked  that it  will be                                                                   
hard on  municipalities if  the amount is  raised only  to be                                                                   
removed later.  Representative Kelly stressed that  the state                                                                   
government is going  to run out of funding in  the next three                                                                   
to seven years, moving into huge  deficits until first "gas."                                                                   
Representative  Kelly  believed  the  challenge  is  to  save                                                                   
enough  money  to  function  through   the  downward  period.                                                                   
Representative  Kelly asked  if  there was  a  ten year  plan                                                                   
available.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:09:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Teal  responded that a  memo from Sherry  Newhouse, dated                                                                   
February  28,  2008,  announced   that,  given  the  official                                                                   
forecast   of  prices,   the   maximum   available  for   the                                                                   
communities'  appropriation in revenue  sharing would  be $70                                                                   
to $80 million  a year, projected through FY  2014. Given the                                                                   
funding mechanism,  the legislature can not afford  to have a                                                                   
larger distribution than is in the bill at the moment.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:11:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kelly commented  that this ignores the size of                                                                   
the budget.  He remarked  that the  legislature is  balancing                                                                   
the  budget at  $60  a  barrel. If  the  budget  is going  to                                                                   
continue to rise  by seven to fifteen percent  per year, then                                                                   
the budget  will not be  balanced on  the base rate,  but the                                                                   
balance  of the  progressivity  piece, which  will be  needed                                                                   
just to fund the government.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:12:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Teal agreed but emphasized  that only if the price of oil                                                                   
rises, will  it be  possible to  balance a constantly  rising                                                                   
budget. Representative Kelly believed  that a missing part in                                                                   
the bill is the growth in the budget.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:14:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hawker agreed that  no current mechanism is in                                                                   
the state for  taking the current proposals out  for next ten                                                                   
years.  He noted  that HB  125,  now residing  in the  Senate                                                                   
Finance,  would require  each year a  ten year  comprehensive                                                                   
model to respond to these questions.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:15:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Kelly wondered  why there  was not already  a                                                                   
ten year forecast for this information.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:17:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer MOVED to ADOPT Amendment #1.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, line 31                                                                                                            
     Delete "to assist communities"                                                                                             
Insert   "as   grants  to   municipalities,   reserves,   and                                                                   
communities for any public purpose"                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Page 5, line 4                                                                                                             
          Delete "up to"                                                                                                        
          Insert "an amount equal to"                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Page 5, line 5,                                                                                                            
          After "(g)."                                                                                                          
          Delete "Appropriations for a fiscal year may also                                                                     
be limited to"                                                                                                                  
          Insert "The amount may not exceed"                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Page 5, line 28                                                                                                            
          After "subsection"                                                                                                    
          Insert ",rounded to the nearest $1,000"                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Page 5, line 29                                                                                                            
          After "amount"                                                                                                        
          Insert",rounded to the nearest $1,000"                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 5, line 30                                                                                                            
          After "amount"                                                                                                        
          Insert ",rounded to the nearest $100"                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 6, line 1                                                                                                             
          After "amount"                                                                                                        
          Insert",rounded to the nearest $100"                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Thomas OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Suzanne Armstrong,  Staff to Representative  Meyer, presented                                                                   
amendment #1  as technical  cleanup language, requested  from                                                                   
legislative  legal, on  a  few provisions  in  the bill.  She                                                                   
introduced a new section of the  amendment on page 1, line 3,                                                                   
to delete "as grants."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hawker   MOVED  a  conceptual   amendment  as                                                                   
described by Ms. Armstrong.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stolze WITHDREW  his OBJECTION. There being NO                                                                   
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer MOVED to ADOPT New Amendment #2.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 14                                                                                                          
          Insert new section                                                                                                    
     Sec.2. AS 29.20.640(b) is amended to read:                                                                               
     (b) Compliance with the provisions of this section is a                                                                    
prerequisite  to Receipt of  community revenue sharing  under                                                                 
AS.60.850-29.60.879[MUNICIPAL   TAX   RESOURCE   EQAULIZATION                                                                 
ASSISTANCE UNDER AS 29.60.010-29.60.080  AND PRIORITY REVENUE                                                                   
SHARING   FOR   MUNICIPAL  SERVICES   UNDER   AS   29.60.100-                                                                   
29.60.180].  If  a municipality  does  not comply  with  this                                                                   
section, the department shall  withhold the allocations until                                                                   
the required Reports are filed.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 14                                                                                                          
               Delete "Sec.2."                                                                                                
          Insert "Sec.3."                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, line 1                                                                                                           
          Insert new sections                                                                                                   
          Sec. 4. 29.45.020(b) is amended to read:                                                                            
               (b) Compliance with the provisions of this                                                                       
section  is a prerequisite  to Receipt  of community  revenue                                                                   
sharing under AS 29.60.850-29.60.879  [MUNICIPAL TAX RESOURCE                                                                   
EQUALIZATION  UNDER   AS  29.60.010-29.60.080   AND  PRIORITY                                                                   
REVENUE  HARING FOR  MUNICIPAL SERVICES  UNDER AS  29.60.100-                                                                   
29.60.180] The  department shall withhold  annual allocations                                                                   
Under those  sections until  municipal officials  demonstrate                                                                   
that the requirements of this section have been met.                                                                            
          Sec. 5. AS 29.45.660(b) is amended to read:                                                                         
               (b) Compliance with the provisions of this                                                                       
section  is a prerequisite  to receipt  of community  revenue                                                                 
sharing  under   AS  29.60.850-29.60.879  [MUNICIPALITY   TAX                                                                 
RESOURCE  EQUALIZATION   UNDER  AS  29.60.010-29.60.080   AND                                                                   
PRIORITY  REVENUE SHARING  FOR  MUNICIPAL  SERVICES Under  as                                                                   
29.60.100-29.60.180].  The department  shall withhold  annual                                                                   
Allocations  under those sections  until municipal  officials                                                                   
demonstrate that  the Requirements of this section  have been                                                                   
met.                                                                                                                            
     Page 4, line 1                                                                                                           
          Delete "Sec.3."                                                                                                     
          Insert "Sec.6."                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, line 27                                                                                                          
          Delete "Sec.4."                                                                                                     
          Insert "Sec.7."                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Page 7, line 28                                                                                                          
          Delete "Sec.5."                                                                                                     
          Insert "Sec.8."                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Page 8, line 4                                                                                                           
          Delete "Sec.6."                                                                                                     
          Insert "Sec.9."                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Page 8, line 22                                                                                                          
          Delete "Sec.7."                                                                                                     
          Insert "Sec.10."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Page 10, line 26                                                                                                         
          Delete "Sec.8"                                                                                                      
          Insert "Sec.11."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Page 11, line 25                                                                                                         
          Delete "Sec.9."                                                                                                     
          Insert "Sec.12."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Page 12, line 5                                                                                                          
          Delete "Sec.10."                                                                                                    
          Insert "Sec.13."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Page 12, line 16                                                                                                         
          Delete "Sec.11."                                                                                                    
          Insert "Sec.14."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Page 12, line 21                                                                                                         
          Delete "Sec.12."                                                                                                    
          Insert "Sec.15."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Page 12, line 21-line 22                                                                                                 
          Delete "AS 29.20.640(b); AS 29.45.020(b), AS                                                                          
29.45.660(b);"                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Page 12, line 26                                                                                                         
          Delete "Sec.13."                                                                                                    
          Insert "Sec.16."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Thomas OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:21:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Armstrong  explained that  the new amendment  #2 proposes                                                                   
to  repeal  several  statutes  relating  to  revenue  sharing                                                                   
programs  that are  currently  on the  books. This  amendment                                                                   
clears  up some statutory  references  under current  law and                                                                   
removes those  statues from the  repealed sections  that they                                                                   
are not repealed and changes the section numbers.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Thomas WITHDREW  his OBJECTION. There being NO                                                                   
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:22:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Chenault MOVED to ADOPT New Amendment #3.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Page 7, lines 11-13                                                                                                             
     Delete all material                                                                                                        
     Insert "assembly approval. If there is more than one                                                                       
qualified entity in an unincorporated  community in a borough                                                                   
or unified municipality, one of  the entities may receive the                                                                   
entire payment, or  the payment may be shared  between two or                                                                   
more  of  the  qualified  entities,   as  determined  by  the                                                                   
assembly.                                                                                                                       
     (c) An unincorporated community in a borough or unified                                                                    
municipality  is eligible  for  a community  revenue  sharing                                                                   
payment only if at least three  of the following services are                                                                   
generally available  to all  residents of the  unincorporated                                                                   
community   and  each   of  the   three   services,  in   any                                                                   
combination,   are  provided  by   one  or  more   qualifying                                                                   
incorporated nonprofit  entities or a Native  village council                                                                   
or  are  substantially  paid  for by  the  residents  of  the                                                                   
unincorporated   community   through   taxes,   charges,   or                                                                   
assessments levied  or authorized  by the borough  or unified                                                                   
municipality.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hawker OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:22:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TOM WRIGHT,  STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE  CHENAULT, clarified  that                                                                   
Amendment  #3 allows  unincorporated  communities, within  an                                                                   
organized  borough, to  participate  in  the revenue  sharing                                                                   
program. He stressed that the  communities have to meet three                                                                   
of the  seven criteria  already in  the bill,  but it  is the                                                                   
borough that will  make final determination if  the community                                                                   
qualifies.  The  borough  will  submit  the  names  of  those                                                                   
communities   to  DCEED  for   their  review  and   approval.                                                                   
Representative   Joule  questioned   if  the   unincorporated                                                                   
community  in  the  borough  that   has  the  services  being                                                                   
provided would qualify. Mr. Wright  responded that it will be                                                                   
the borough that  determines if the community  is meeting the                                                                   
criteria listed within  the bill. Mr. Wright  gave an example                                                                   
that in the unincorporated community  of Sterling, within the                                                                   
Kenai Peninsula,  some services  are provided but  their mill                                                                   
rate goes  toward other services  that the borough  provides.                                                                   
Mr.  Wright continued  that if  the  borough determines  they                                                                   
meet three of  the seven criteria under this  amendment, they                                                                   
would be eligible.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:25:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer remarked  that the idea is to  incentivize the                                                                   
communities  to incorporate,  but he wondered  if this  takes                                                                   
away the incentive.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BILL ROLFSON, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE,  addressed the question                                                                   
that there is  an incentive for municipal  incorporation, but                                                                   
the unorganized borough is outside  any municipal government.                                                                   
Mr. Rolfson empathized  that state law would  rather have the                                                                   
borough provide those services  rather than have another city                                                                   
government within their municipal boundaries.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:27:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer questioned  if the borough could  just say the                                                                   
unorganized  community  qualifies in  order  to receive  more                                                                   
money. Mr.  Rolfson explained that  the way the  amendment is                                                                   
drafted,  the community,  a native  village  council or  non-                                                                   
profit community  organization or  the borough, must  meet at                                                                   
least three of  the seven criteria and the  services provided                                                                   
within the borough  are generally available to  all residents                                                                   
in that community. This amendment  is trying to identify that                                                                   
there  are unincorporated  communities where  the service  is                                                                   
not being provided by the native  village council or the non-                                                                   
profit, but by the borough, and  the city is paying taxes for                                                                   
those services.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:28:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Rolfson identified thirty  one unincorporated communities                                                                   
last year  that met  the criteria. To  meet the criteria  the                                                                   
native village council  or a community association  had to be                                                                   
providing  at   least  three  of  the  services   within  the                                                                   
community. Some  boroughs, Kenai and Mat-Su,  had communities                                                                   
where services  were being  provided and  the residents  were                                                                   
paying  taxes and  fees, but  because the  services were  not                                                                   
being provided  by a  non-profit or  native village  council,                                                                   
they were not eligible to receive this $20,000 payment.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:30:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hawker  wanted  assurance  that,  subject  to                                                                   
meeting three of seven criteria,  the community of Hope would                                                                   
be classified  as unincorporated.  Mr. Rolfson declared  that                                                                   
at this  time the department  can not provide  an eligibility                                                                   
list. He  reiterated that they  would rely on the  borough to                                                                   
identify these communities  but Hope would be  in a community                                                                   
that the borough could look at for the funding.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:31:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Stoltze  questioned if there was  a list available                                                                   
of the eligible  communities. Mr. Rolfson commented  that the                                                                   
department  can  not  generate  a with  list  but  they  have                                                                   
determined that thirty one communities meet these criteria.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:34:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kelly stressed  that when the legislative body                                                                   
is considering an amendment that  significantly increases the                                                                   
number of  eligible communities,  from thirty to  sixty, more                                                                   
information  would  be  needed, especially  in  dealing  with                                                                   
tribal issues.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Chenault WITHDREW Amendment #3.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Kelly noted there  is a fiscal  note attached                                                                   
to Amendment  #3 and  suggested that  prior to the  amendment                                                                   
being  brought  before  the committee  in  the  future,  more                                                                   
information would be needed.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:37:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Tom Wright clarified that the  communities would only qualify                                                                   
for the  minimum based on  population for the  unincorporated                                                                   
communities.  Co-Chair Meyer remarked  that would  be $20,000                                                                   
times  the   number  of   possible  communities,   which  are                                                                   
potentially  sixty.  Mr.  Rolfson  signified  that  would  be                                                                   
$620,000 for  thirty communities  and $1.2 million  for sixty                                                                   
communities.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SB  72   was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  Committee   for  further                                                                   
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:38:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 3:38 PM                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

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