Protecting Your Rights: Serving Sand Lake, Spenard and Turnagain

September 2, 2021

House Passes Appropriations Bill

In July, Governor Dunleavy called the legislature into its third special session to begin on August 16 to take up constitutional amendments relating to appropriation limits, constitutional amendments relating to the permanent fund and power cost equalization, and measures to increase state revenues.

On August 11, shortly before the special session, the Alaska Superior Court ruled against the governor in Alaska Federation of Natives v. Dunleavy and ruled that the Power Cost Equalization Endowment Fund was not subject to the provisions that "sweep" certain unappropriated funds into the Constitutional Budget Reserve. This court decision meant that energy assistance for rural Alaska was included in the budget approved in June—contrary to the position that the governor took in June. Shortly after the court decision, the governor announced that he would accept the court's ruling—changing the position that he took in June and that he argued in court.

The governor’s initial special session call did not include an appropriations bill. But after requests from the House Speaker and Senate President to add legislation for a Permanent Fund Dividend and other appropriations (including scholarships and WWAMI), the governor changed the call to include an appropriations bill, House Bill 3003. As originally introduced on August 20, HB 3003 proposed drawing $3 billion more than planned from the Permanent Fund Earnings Reserve Account—half to pay for the governor's proposed $2,350 dividend and the other to cover the gap between what the state spends and what it raises over the next few years.

Overdrawing the Permanent Fund beyond the annual draw established in statute puts the fund in jeopardy of being spent down in the same way our Constitutional Budget Reserve (CBR) savings were drained of more than $14 billion over the past decade.

Next, on August 25, based on the court's ruling in AFN v. Dunleavy, the governor flip-flopped his position and declared that higher education funds, including funding for the WWAMI medical school program, were appropriated by the legislature in June and were not "swept" into the Constitutional Budget Reserve. This flip-flop by the governor in the middle of the special session removed the need to address higher education funding, including WWAMI, in HB 3003.

To avoid overdrawing the CBR, the House Finance Committee amended HB 3003 to include a $1,100 dividend and rejected the governor's proposed $3 billion overdraw from the Earnings Reserve Account. On Tuesday, the House passed HB 3003 by a vote of 24-16. HB 3003 provides funding for COVID-19 services and appropriates an affordable dividend that does not break the law that restricts withdrawals from the Permanent Fund. It continues our work for a responsible action plan for Alaska that funds critical programs and protects the Permanent Fund—Alaska's last, best savings account.

HB 3003 now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Anchorage Airport Update: South Air Cargo Campus

Over the last year, our office has been following and keeping constituents updated on plans for development at the South Cargo Campus. The company, IC Alaska, has worked closely with the local community council to create a new iteration of their proposal that takes into account public input, FAA concerns, and carrier requests. IC Alaska is nearing a lease agreement with the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

Notable changes highlighted by IC Alaska, including a project purpose statement, are:

Process of designing an even better sound barrier with the help of an acoustical engineer and utilizing the best available international practice.
Providing a sound berm and confirming that area is 25 feet below community geographic profile.
Reduced size of proposed parking lot.
The footprint is away from the Raspberry Road fence-line with vegetation buffer.
By-pass traffic flow away from Raspberry Road.
C Change will actively pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the project.
12 hardstands with all aircraft pointing nose to the community, engines to the north (away from the community).
Optimization: The project has three main goals. The ability to fuel, load, and reload cargo planes effectively utilizing a principle of great service and best available technology and practice. It also will provide a much-needed MRO – maintenance, repair, and operations facility and include construction of a hanger that can support the two other goals.

For more information about this proposed development, please visit https://www.icalaska.com/about.

Nonpartisan Top Four Primary Election

In the 2020 General Election, voters approved an initiative to establish a Nonpartisan Top Four Primary Election system and a Ranked Choice Voting General Election system. Moving forward, there will be many changes to how we vote and how elections look in Alaska.

Last month, our newsletter highlighted Ranked Choice Voting. This week, we're discussing the Nonpartisan Top Four Primary Election system.

Nonpartisan Top Four Primary Election FAQ

What is a Nonpartisan Top Four primary election?

There will be only one primary ballot, with all candidates regardless of political party or political group affiliation. Voters may cast a vote for one candidate in each race, regardless of the voter’s political affiliation.

Only the four candidates in each race who receive the most votes will advance to the general election. The primary election no longer determines the nominee of a political party or group.

What happens when there are less than four candidates in a race?

All candidates for that race will move onto the general election.

When is the first/next election in which the Nonpartisan Top Four primary election system will be used?

The August 16, 2022 primary election.

Will my registered political affiliation affect who I can vote for?

No. All candidates will be on the same ballot and all voters may vote for anyone, regardless of registration affiliation.

Who can run in the primary election?

Any registered voter who meets the requirements of AS 15.25.030(a) and seeks to become a candidate in the primary election can file a declaration of candidacy. Primary candidates do not need to be a member of a political party or political group.

What happens if a potential candidate misses the filing deadline?

They cannot participate in the primary election, but they can file paperwork to run as a write-in candidate on the general election ballot.

Can a candidate with no party affiliation still run in the general election by petition?

No. Under the new law, the nominating petition process no longer allows for candidates to run in the general election using the nominating petition process. If a candidate did not appear on the primary election ballot or was not successful in advancing to the general election, they may run as an official write-in candidate as long as they file a letter of intent at least 5 days prior to the general election.

Is there a limit as to how many candidates can file for the primary election?

No.

Will there still be a ballot measures only ballot in the primary?

No. With a Nonpartisan primary, ballot measures will appear on the same ballot as the top four primary.

As time goes on, the Division of Elections informational webpage will be updated to include additional educational tools to help prepare you for voting in both new election systems.

New Bus Route

Route 85 is a new route that will travel between City Hall and the Dimond Transit Center. It will provide direct service to the Loussac Library winding through West Anchorage and along the Old Seward Highway.

Weekday Service: Every 60 minutes between 6 AM and Midnight.

Weekend Service: Every 60 minutes between 8 AM and 8 PM.

Route 85 begins service on September 20, 2021. For more information about this route, including a map, click here.

Survey of Older Residents

A survey of 300 Anchorage residents aged 55-75 was completed in spring 2021. The goal was to gather information for strategies to retain older residents in the community.

Over one-third of Anchorage residents between age 55 and 75 are likely to move out of Anchorage in the future, taking considerable income, charitable giving, and volunteerism out of the community. Residents 65 and older account for 12% of Anchorage’s population and collectively account for about $1.2 billion in household income. The economic benefits of reducing the number of seniors who leave Anchorage are substantial. Click here to read the full report.

Community Events

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

Turnagain Community Council

When: Thursday, September 2 at 7:00 PM

Where: Virtual Zoom Meeting. Click here for details.

Sand Lake Community Council

When: Monday, September 13 at 6:30 PM

Where: Virtual Zoom Meeting. Click here for details.

ANC Market Social

Join Anchorage Downtown Partnership and Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse for the ANC Market Social.

When: Sunday, September 5 from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Where: Downtown Anchorage (E Street between 5th and 6th Avenue and Town Square Park)

Attractions include: live music, local vendor booths, and a beer garden hosted by Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse. Invited vendors are those that sell only Alaskan hand-made, locally hand-crafted or homegrown produce.

For more information and to RSVP, visit the Facebook event page.