Municipal
Election File, 2010

October 5, 2010
Municipal Election
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to take to the polls (but do not leave there)
ITA Urges You to Vote YES on Both Propositions
FNSB Proposition A: “The borough shall not ban,
prohibit, or fine residents for the use of home heating devices” (which are then
defined).
A YES vote tells the Fairbanks North Star Borough you
want them to allow YOU to decide what form of home heating devices you use in
your own home. You want a LOCAL air quality program that:
* Stands up to the EPA
* Protects your Right to heat your home, most
affordably, as determined by YOU, not the government.
* Avoids spending your tax dollars on code enforcement
officers.
Remember it is YOUR borough – PLEASE VOTE YES FOR
PROPOSITION A !
FNSB Proposition B: “Shall sections 3.08.141 and
3.08.142 of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Code of Ordinances be reenacted”
(The sections are then summarized).
A YES vote would keep in place the exact same revenue
cap that is presently in place in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. A YES vote
actually renews the two year protection the state gives any voter initiated and
approved ordinance – for another two years.
Why Do We Need a Revenue Tax Cap?
The Revenue Cap is something that affects each and every
person living in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. It is our revenue cap that
keeps property taxes from soaring higher every time the assembly wants to spend
some money without allowing you to vote.
* I AM A RENTER – DOES IT MATTER TO ME?
Although many renters believe that the Revenue Cap does not
affect them, you must remember that when your landlord receives a major tax
increase, that burden is passed on to you through increased rents.
* WHAT ABOUT THE MILITARY WHO DON’T OWN OR RENT?
Again, the tax cap affects everyone living in the
borough. While you may not rent or be a property owner, you will pay property
tax every time you shop in our local stores. This is because when store owners
are forced to pay a high property tax, they, in turn, pass that cost on to you,
the consumer.
* DIDN’T WE JUST DO THIS?
One of the questions most frequently asked of ITA is,
“Why must we go through this process every two years?” Good question! The simple
answer is – unlike the city, the borough does not have a charter where
iinitiatives become permanent law until changed by the voters. The borough is
governed by Alaska State Law Title 29, which clearly states:
Sec. 29.26.190. Effect. (a) The effect of an ordinance
or resolution may not be modified or negated within two years after its
effective date if adopted in an initiative election . . . Alaska Statutes Title
29
Put simply, this means that if we do not renew our cap
every two years by voter approval, it would take only 5 votes of the Borough
Assembly to either raise the cap or make it go away altogether.
* IS IT WORKING? DIDN’T MY TAXES JUST GO UP?
Your property taxes have increased over the years!
However, due to the tax cap, only a very minimal part of that increase is due to
growth in borough government. The majority of this increase has been due to
VOTER APPROVED BOND ISSUES, i.e. library expansion, new grade schools, tens of
millions in high school renovations, solid waste bonds…the list goes on and on.
The tax cap itself protects you ONLY against unwanted growth in government.
PLEASE VOTE YES FOR PROPOSITION B, THE REVENUE CAP!
The Candidates:
With the current economic climate, this may well be one
of the most critical elections in which we have ever been involved. ITA members
have tried their best to choose the most fiscally conservative candidates for
you – those who will budget your money with you in mind, rather than just
catering to special interest groups.
Our members felt that the following candidates could
best be trusted to be responsible with your tax money.
City Mayor
City Council
-
No Endorsemernt, Seat C
-
Don N. Seeliger, Seat D.
Borough Assembly
-
Diane Hutchison, Seat B
-
Natalie Howard, Seat C
-
Michael Dukes, Seat D
-
Guy Sattley, Seat I
The above is from our full page ad in the
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Sunday, October 3, 2010.
Paid for by The Interior Taxpayers' Association,
Donna Gilbert, President, Box 71892, Fairbanks, AK 99707 (907) 452-4783.
[Tax
Cap Explanation]
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