ANCHORAGE, Alaska—
The Anchorage Assembly is learning more about how proposed fee increases and service cuts would affect taxpayers. Members grilled city officials about Mayor Dan Sullivan's proposed 2011 spending plan during a work session Friday afternoon.One of the more significant fee increases comes in the form of the motor-vehicle registration tax on new vehicles, which would go up by $29 to $150. Cars seven years or older would see an increase from $16 to $70.
In addition, aircraft registration fees would double. Bus fares would increase across the board, as would vehicle impoundment fees and public-works inspection costs.
As well as looking into the fee increases, Assembly members questioned city department heads on how proposed service cuts would impact taxpayers.
Anchorage Municipal Libraries Director Karen Keller told the Assembly that the closure of the Samson-Dimond Branch Library in the Dimond Center mall would potentially create more traffic and longer waits at the main Loussac Library.
But Sullivan says the proposed changes are necessary because the cost of running government is going up, and he says he wants to avoid a budget shortfall.
It's up to the assembly to decide what to approve.. and what to change as it reviews the mayor's spending plan.
“The community has said overwhelmingly if we've got to make cuts, let’s look at these admin and support positions before we start losing deliverable services like your snow plowing, your police, your fire, your libraries,” said Assembly member Paul Honeman.
“These work sessions with the administration are very important: they give us the chance to really quiz the administration, ask them pointed and hard questions,” said Assembly member Bill Starr. “It gives us a sense that they've got a good understanding of their departments, and if we see holes in that we're going to dig deeper.”
Anchorage residents will also have an opportunity to dig deeper next Tuesday during the Assembly’s first public hearing on the budget at the Loussac Library.
Contact Ted Land at tland@ktuu.com
