Legislature(2005 - 2006)BELTZ 211
03/06/2006 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB193 | |
| SB291 | |
| SB246 | |
| SB247 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 193 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 291 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 247 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 246 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 246-APPROP TO REVENUE SHARING FUND
2:45:04 PM
CHAIR BERT STEDMAN announced SB 246 to be up for consideration.
He asked Senator Gary Stevens to introduce the committee-
sponsored bill.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS explained that SB 246 and SB 247 are
related. SB 246 makes a $28 million appropriation from the
Alaska Capital Income Fund ("Amerada Hess") and places it in the
Revenue Sharing Fund. The bill is the result of work done by the
Advisory Commission on Local Government and would only become
effective if SB 247 is passed. SB 247 establishes the Revenue
Sharing Fund and it will provide a sustainable source of funding
to be shared with local governments on a long-term and
predictable basis.
CHAIR STEDMAN asked if the Alaska Capital Income Fund source is
loosely referred to as Amerada Hess.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS said yes; income from the Amerada Hess
would provide the annual $28 million appropriation.
CHAIR STEDMAN clarified that Amerada Hess funds are held inside
the Alaska Permanent Fund but aren't figured into the dividend
calculation. Last year the Legislature used income from Amerada
Hess and this proposal is another use for the ongoing income
stream generated from those funds.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS added the key is that the funds are
renewable because communities really won't benefit if revenue
sharing isn't available on an ongoing basis.
CHAIR STEDMAN opened public comment.
2:48:19 PM
KEVIN RICHIE, Executive Director, Alaska Municipal League (AML),
thanked the advisory commission for its hard work and stated
support for using Amerada Hess funds as at least one source for
sustainable revenue sharing.
2:49:15 PM
TIM JOYCE, Mayor of Cordova, testified in support of some
mechanism to provide for sustainable revenue sharing for Alaskan
communities because many have had a tough time since revenue
sharing was eliminated. He opined that it would require more
than the Amerada Hess appropriation to make the contribution
meaningful.
CHAIR STEDMAN asked testifiers to hold their comments to the
funding source.
2:51:11 PM
ELAINE PRICE, Projects Manager for the City of Coffman Cove,
said she wanted to testify on SB 247, but she would like the
funding source to be from Amerada Hess or whatever means is
necessary to provide revenue sharing to communities.
2:51:40 PM
DORIS BAILEY, Assembly Member for the City and Borough of Sitka,
offered official support for both SB 246 and SB 247 and stated
that revenue sharing is an exceptionally important issue for the
municipality.
2:52:27 PM
PAT PORTER, Mayor for the City of Kenai, encouraged support for
both SB 246 and SB 247. She advised that this isn't Kenai's real
choice for a bill, but it's a good beginning.
2:53:16 PM
DAVE TRANTHAM, JR., Alaska Municipal League Representative from
District 9 testified from Bethel in support of using Amerada
Hess funding for municipal revenue sharing.
2:54:42 PM
KARL SHORT, Finance Director for the Kodiak Island Borough,
testified in support of SB 246, which establishes funding for
revenue sharing. He reported that since 1986 costs to the
borough have skyrocketed.
CHAIR STEDMAN announced he would hold SB 246 in committee.
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