Heads-up to anyone in Juneau, and to anyone moving here soon... (Anchorage: budget, travel)

[Barkingowl]

Well there's plenty of water to cool a reactor.

[DannyL]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

Alaska would save billions-in travel alone-by moving the capital to Anchorage, or Willow, or even to Fairbanks. It costs quite a lot to travel to Juneau, and there are quite a lot of representatives and their aids moving around with their travel, and lodging paid for.

Barrow is on the road system....

[Rance]

Billions? I'm sure it's not billions. Maybe millions.

[Metlakatla]

The members of the legislature receive a per-diem for lodging and meals--they'll still receive it even after the capital is moved to Sterling, so it really wouldn't save any money. Not sure about travel expenses. Wasn't there something about a jet a few years back?

Xa'at--is it that bad that you might have to move back to white power (and powder) land? What is the time frame for this thing to be fixed? You've probably already heard this, but at least longer and warmer days are on the way and there will be less need for electricity. If it gets too bad we can have a bake sale--I make good brownies....we could sell them in front of the capital building. What the hell.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by Glitch

Juneau is filled with whining liberals who, at the first sign of trouble, go crying to the government to get taxpayers to bail them out. That "give-me" attitude is more suited for the lesser-48 than Alaska.

Yet another reason to move the capital out of Juneau.

That doesn't appear to be a valid reason to move the capital, even if it were true, which it isn't.

However, it is interesting that a resident of the Mat-Su valley would have the brass to complain that some other part of the state asks for an emergency bailout... given that they are simply supported by state give aways even when there is no emergency of any kind.

A quick look at the Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs community database shows some interesting figures. First, the Mat-Su Borough has more than twice as many people as does Juneau (77k to 31k), yet Juneau's operatinng budget includes $187 million from local taxes while local revenues contribut only $107 million to the Mat-Su operating budget. And while Juneau gets just less than a million ($945K) from the state, the Mat-Su Borough gets $3.3 million.

They each take about $1.8 million from the federal government for the operating budget, so that is tipped in Juneau's direction by a miniscule amount. Capital projects (federal and state) and education funds from the state are about equal per capita.

Conclusions?

People in the Mat-Su Borough are unwilling to contribute (23% of what residents of Juneau contribute, per capita). And the State of Alaska gives the Mat-Su, per capita, 140% the amount given to Juneau for their operating budgets.

Now do people get an idea why moving the capital to the Mat-Su is simply bad government for Alaska? The tilt would double immediately, and in 10 years nobody else in the state would have a pot to **** in.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

Alaska would save billions-in travel alone-by moving the capital to Anchorage, or Willow, or even to Fairbanks. It costs quite a lot to travel to Juneau, and there are quite a lot of representatives and their aids moving around with their travel, and lodging paid for.

How would that change significantly if they were all going to Willow rather than Juneau? For those from Anchorage and Fairbanks, yes it would be less expensive by a significant amount. From Barrow, what difference is there?

And no, the aids are not getting per diem, travel or lodging for moving to and from Juneau. They do get paid when traveling on State business, and no I don't think anyone makes money on it. Legislators, on the other hand, get per diem while working in Juneau (or anywhere else), and have been very creative in finding ways to make it an essential part of their salary. That would not change with a capital move.

The travel/living expenses paid by the State would not even be cut in half, and are not a huge expense comparitively anyway.

It's a bogus argument. It is certainly NOT billions.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Rance

Billions? I'm sure it's not billions. Maybe millions.

Billions on the long run.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

How would that change significantly if they were all going to Willow rather than Juneau? For those from Anchorage and Fairbanks, yes it would be less expensive by a significant amount. From Barrow, what difference is there?

And no, the aids are not getting per diem, travel or lodging for moving to and from Juneau. They do get paid when traveling on State business, and no I don't think anyone makes money on it. Legislators, on the other hand, get per diem while working in Juneau (or anywhere else), and have been very creative in finding ways to make it an essential part of their salary. That would not change with a capital move.

The travel/living expenses paid by the State would not even be cut in half, and are not a huge expense comparitively anyway.

It's a bogus argument. It is certainly NOT billions.

The difference it would make on travel would be big enough in two ways: the Assembly would be closer to where the two major cities exist (the largest populations), plus a whole bunch of towns in the interior, around Anchorage, all the way to Homer and Seward. Also, instead of having most of the lawmakers in the State of AK taking expensive round trips to Juneau, there would be but a few lawmakers flying round trips out of Juneau and vicinity to Willow. Years and years of flying back and forth adds up.

[Rance]

They all would have to get hotels and rentacars or flights anyway. So leave em in Juneau please.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

The difference it would make on travel would be big enough in two ways: the Assembly would be closer to where the two major cities exist (the largest populations), plus a whole bunch of towns in the interior, around Anchorage, all the way to Homer and Seward. Also, instead of having most of the lawmakers in the State of AK taking expensive round trips to Juneau, there would be but a few lawmakers flying round trips out of Juneau and vicinity to Willow. Years and years of flying back and forth adds up.

All you've done is convince me that the last thing half of this state would want to do is move the capital! You've described how it will benefit half the state to the detriment of the other half. That does not make for better government, it makes for even more regionalization than we already have, and that is a BAD thing.

Regardless, the travel money is a drop in the bucket, and insignificant compared to the increase in pork that would go to the wrong places.

And actually, it is more than half the state that would be at an increased disadvantage, because if you think the Fairbanks area would benefit... I've got a bridge that you want to buy into too.