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Submittedby: Assembly Members Clementson
and Von Gemmingen
Preparedby: Departmentof Law
For reading
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
AR NO. 98-72(asamended)
A RESOLUTION OF rnE ANCHORAGE MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY OPPOSINGSENATE
BILL No. 208 AND ITS COMPANION HOUSE BILL No. 365 WHICH PROPOSETO
SEVERELY LIMIT MAXIMUM LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT AND HOME RULE
POWERSGRAN1ED BY THE ALASKA CONSllronON AND OTHERWISE IMPAIR OR
IMPEDE rnE IMPLEMENTA nON OF OrnER CONSllTUTIONAL MANDATES FOR
LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Maximum Local Se(f-Government
WHEREAS, Article X., § I of the Alaska Constitution provides for maximwn local self-government
for both home rule and general law municipalities and SenateBill 208 and House Bill 365 substantially
diminish the exercise of local self-government; and
WHEREAS, Article X., §I also mandatesthat a liberal construction be given to the power of local
governmentsand SenateBill 208 and House bill 365 restrict the liberal construction of local government
powers; and
WHEREAS, Article X, §2 mandatesthat local governmentpowers be vested in boroughs and cities
and SenateBill 208 and House Bill 365 derogatesthe local government powers of boroughs and unified
municipalities but not those of all local governments; and
WHEREAS, Article X., §5. mandatesthat the local assemblyhave the power to establish, alter and
abolish service areasand SenateBill 208 and House Bill 365 substantially limits such assembly powers;
and
WHEREAS, the Alaska constitutionalconventionclearly intendedthat jurisdiction over service
areasin organizedboroughsand unified municipalitieswas to be vestedin the assemblyof the local
governmentto assurea unified supervisionof all municipal functions;and
Home Rule Powers
WHEREAS,Article X., §II grantshomerule municipalitiesall legislativepowersnot prohibited
by law or charter;and
WHEREAS, Article X, § 11 of the Alaska's Constitution allows municipal governments to take
on home rule statusbroader than those of any other state,it being the intent of the constitutional delegates
that the legislature should have authority to deny local exercise of specific powers only when necessary
for a greater state interest and that the legislature would not act to limit home rule powers except under
such special circumstances; and
ARNo. 98-72 (asamended)
Page2
Minimum Number of Local GovernmentUnits
and
[!revention ef Duplicate Tax L~in~ Jurisdictions
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WHEREAS, Article X, § 1 of the Alaska Constitution provides for a minimum number of local
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government units to prevent the duplication of tax levying jurisdictions and and this provision has been
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interpreted by the Alaska SupremeCourt and other Alaska Constitution scholars to mean, in part, that the
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constitution calls for a minimum number of local government units, including service areas; and
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WHEREAS, Article X., § 5 of the Alaska Constitution prohibits the creation of new service areas
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in home rule and general law governmentsif the new service can be provided by an existing service area
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consistentwith the constitutional requirementfor maximum local self-government and a minimum number
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of local government units; and
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WHEREAS,Article X., §6.,providesthat the Legislaturemay exerciseany power or function in
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the unorganizedh?roughwhich an assemblymay exercisein an organizedborough;and
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WHEREAS, the Legislature is currently reviewing several pieces of legislation, (i.e. SenateBill
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208 and House Bill 365) that will limit the power of the Assembly in an organized borough; now therefore,
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THE ANCHORAGE ASSEMBLY RESOLYES
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Section 1~
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that:
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Substantially and unjustifiably diminishes local self-governmentin contraventionof
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Alaska's constitutionalmandatefor maximumlocal self-government;and
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Unconstitutionally diminishes the legislative authority and responsibility of local
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assembliesunderArticle X., §S.of the Alaska Constitution;and
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Unjustifiablydiscriminatesagainstboroughsandunified municipalitiesby restrictingtheir
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local governmentpowers;and
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Unconstitutionallyimpedesor impairscompliancewith the Alaskaconstitutionalmandate
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that therebe a minimum of local governmentunits; and
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Severelydiminisheslocal governments'ability to comply with the Alaska constitutional
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mandateto avoid duplicationof tax levyingjurisdictions; and
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5019:
AR No. 98-72 (asamended)
Page3
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F.
May severelyrestrictthe authorityof the Departmentof Communityand RegionalAffairs
and the Departmentof Educationto consolidate~alter or abolish Regional Education
AttendanceAreasin the unorganizedboroughwhich could adverselyaffect funding other
schooldistrictsandconstitutea detrimentto the delivery of public educationin the State;
and
G.
May severelyrestrict the authority of the Legislatureto provide other servicesin the
unorganizedborough.
Section 2. That the Assembly of the Municipality of Anchorage hereby opposes the passageof any
legislation which will unnecessarily impair the Alaska constitutional mandate of maximum local selfgovernment, especially in home rule boroughs and unified municipalities, or which impedes or impairs the
ability of local government to fulfill the Alaska constitutional mandateto minimize local government units
and avoid duplication of tax levying jurisdictions.
Section 3. This resolution shall becomeeffective immediately upon passageand approval by the
Assembly.
PASSEDAND APPROVEDby the AnchorageAssemblythis 3rd day ofMarc~ 1998
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.Chair
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