If you’re a voter on the Kenai Peninsula

Think About It……. September 28, 2011

If you’re a voter on the Kenai Peninsula it’s probably time to take a look at what’s on the ballot that will face you in the voting booth next Tuesday, October 4^th.

Proposition #1 will cost all permanent residents another $2,800,000 in taxes. That means that if you live here on the Kenai Peninsula from September 1^st through May 31^st, all winter long, you will once again need to cough up more sales tax every time you shop for food. You will still need to pay the extra sales tax on food during the summer months along with the help of all of our tourists and visitors to the Kenai Peninsula. Now, who among us, besides our current “free spending and taxing Assembly” would want to take on another $2,800,000 in taxes? A No vote on Prop #1 will continue the 9 month exemption of non-prepared food items from sales taxes. So…..Vote No on Proposition #1.

Proposition #2 would increase taxes again. If Prop #2 is passed you will be required to pay an additional $900,000 (almost one million) to pay for several community organizations which are not even a part of our Borough government. That’s right! The Borough Assembly and Mayor alone will decide who that $900,000 goes to and even they will have no say at all in how or where that organization spends the money. Your Borough Sales taxes would increase from 3% to 3.1% and the $900,000.that you will have to pay each year is to be used for “economic development” purposes. That my friend could be for virtually anything….transportation, education, ditch digging, basket weaving…the Assembly could stretch all most any expenditure into the term “economic development”…..right? This is a no brainer! Vote No on Prop #2. It was placed on the ballot by our current “free spending and taxing” Borough Assembly who are set on dipping their hands into your wallet and some are saying they will fund the organizations even if Prop #2 fails. Be sure to Vote No on Proposition #2.

Proposition #3 is about the apportionment of the Assembly and the School Board and how many districts and how many people we need on both local government bodies. Prop #3 is the work of that same “free spending and taxing” Borough Assembly who didn’t have the guts to give the voters a real choice. Their Plan #1 would have zero additional costs to taxpayers and simply realign the current nine Districts to meet requirements of the 2010 census. Plan #2 would cost you another $83 grand and calls for two more election districts in the Borough to reflect the 2010 census and if you choose Plan #2 and its eleven election districts it will cost you another $83,000 for nothing worthwhile. Is our current Assembly nuts! Save your money and vote for Plan #1. It costs nothing more and keeps the number of seats on the Assembly and School Board the same as it is now. Too bad the Assemblywouldn’t give us a real choice and let us choose an even smaller Assembly. It would be easier, each year, to throw out the spenders and taxers among them. Choose Plan #1 on Proposition #3.

Six candidates want to be your next Borough Mayor: Fred Sturman stands for cutting the cost of Borough government and lowering taxes whenever possible. Debbie Brown believes “less government and government cost” is best. She wants an all Alaska Gas Pipeline. Gary Superman is a former Assemblyman and radio talk show host who seems to have the best interests of the Borough at heart. Timothy Obrien is virtually an unknown candidate. Dale Bagley is a former mayor who wants the job again. Mike Navarre has served as Borough Mayor before as well as serving as a Democrat in the Alaska State Legislature. Navarre is widely known throughout our Borough and the state through his many long time business interests and contacts.

Election Day is Tuesday October 4^th. Be sure you plan now to mark a ballot. It’s not only the right thing to do it could save you considerable dollars.

Think About It! JCD 09-28-2011

One Comment to “If you’re a voter on the Kenai Peninsula”

James says:

September 30, 2011 at 2:43 pm

I sincerely appreciate KSRM’s election coverage. No other media outlet had provided as much in depth coverage of the important issues that affect our lives as borough citizens.

KSRM has done a very good to provided the facts and to provide a venue for those who advocate their side of important issues.

I would like to add that candidate Fred Sturman has demonstrated that he brings to the table significant business interests and contacts, both as a successful businessman in the private sector and as an activist providing citizens with choices through the ballot initiative process. For years, Fred has provided a voice for the voters and years of unpaid service to our community.

I appreciate the great service provided by this local radio station, along with the professional and thorough job done by the news staff and the local Sound-Off commentators. KSRM has done an excellent job. I hope that voters will show their commitment to our community by considering the facts, becoming informed and getting out to vote.