MEMORANDUM

TO: Pete Sprague, Assembly President

Members, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

FROM: Betty Glick, Assembly Member

DATE: June 26, 2003

SUBJECT: Ordinance 2003-31, An ordinance placing an advisory proposition on the ballot asking the voters whether the borough should exercise the power to provide transportation systems on an areawide basis within the borough

The borough adopted transportation powers on an areawide basis in Ordinance 2000-19-06, which enacted Chapter 13.10 of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Code. It authorized funding for public transportation systems within the borough on an areawide basis. Alaska Statute 29.35.210(b)(1) authorizes the borough to adopt this power by ordinance. However, this power will potentially have a significant adverse financial effect upon the borough as public transportation systems tend not to be self-supporting and can require significant government subsidies. As this is such a potentially expensive power, I believe the voters should be provided with the opportunity to express their opinion on this matter. While this vote is advisory in the sense that it does not bind future assemblies, I believe it is important to provide the voters with an opportunity to express its opinion on this important issue. If the proposition passes then chapter 13.10 would be repealed immediately, but the repeal would not effect existing appropriations.