04/02/2008 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 285(CRA)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act   relating  to   an  optional  exemption   from                                                                   
     municipal  property taxes for  residences of  widows and                                                                   
     widowers of  certain members of the armed  forces of the                                                                   
     United States."                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
KAREN  LISTER,  REPRESENTATIVE  JOHN  COGHILL,  presented  an                                                                   
overview of  the bill. The bill  requests an exception  for a                                                                   
municipality  or  city to  be  able  to partially  or  wholly                                                                   
exempt from taxation real property  that is owned or occupied                                                                   
by a widow or widower of a member  of the Armed Forces of the                                                                   
United States that  was injured while serving  on active duty                                                                   
who  is eligible  for hostile  fire or  imminent danger  pay.                                                                   
This request came  to Representative Coghill by  the Mayor of                                                                   
the  Fairbanks  North  Star  Borough  and  will  provide  the                                                                   
municipalities the  option of whether they choose  to make an                                                                   
ordinance to allow this exception  and set out the parameters                                                                   
for qualification and eligibility.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:51:36 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JENNIFER  YUKAS, SPECIAL  ASSISTANT  TO  THE FAIRBANKS  NORTH                                                                   
STAR  MAYOR JIM  WHITAKER testified  via teleconference,  and                                                                   
supported  the  bill. She  related  the borough's  thanks  to                                                                   
Representative Coghill  for sponsoring this  legislation. She                                                                   
emphasized  that  this  bill   would  further  recognize  the                                                                   
contributions of Alaska's military men and women.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:52:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  questioned how  many people would  be affected                                                                   
by  the  bill.  Ms.  Lister  did  not  have  the  answer  but                                                                   
signified that Mr. VanSant online  could possibly answer that                                                                   
question.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:52:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
STEVE  VANSANT,  STATE  ASSESSOR,   DEPARTMENT  OF  COMMERCE,                                                                   
COMMUNITY    AND   ECONOMIC    DEVELOPMENT   testified    via                                                                   
teleconference,  and   responded  that  there   is  no  solid                                                                   
estimate on that  figure however he believed  the estimate to                                                                   
not be very large.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:53:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Huggins  stated that  the important  part is  that it                                                                   
allows the municipalities the option.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CS HB  285(CRA) was HEARD and  HELD in Committee  for further                                                                   
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:54:37 AM