Contributed by Ed Martin Jr.
I believe we should:
1) Audit all departments from top to bottom; all programs funded by all sources of revenue. Thoroughly review operational spending in each department to streamline & consolidate duplicate program implantation(s) for waste, possible fraud & abuse in all aspects of expenditures. Essentially construct a new budget from zero base budgeting with all of the above in mind. This has the potential of cutting an additional $500 Million
2) Cut the most costly direct services but preserve the basic infrastructures in place that would generate a positive revenue! The first that comes to mind is the Alaska Marine Highway System. Sell the ships to any corporation that can continue service to southeast communities & beyond (preferably an Alaskan one like a Native corporation. Lease, like the Airports, to that company our dockside services at a profit to Alaskans. This should generate $500 to $750 million in revenue to the state & eliminate an employment requirement & future retirement mandate!
3) Offer/sell to Alaskans a"land voucher" in exchange for the annual PFD for a period of up to ten years [ targeted towards Alaska's youth ] and all others in an effort to keep the money in the Earnings Reserve for future investment for future Alaskan PFD's. This land disposal starts with this program & further allows for 500,000 acres total; purposefully dedicating 200,000 acres for Alaskans only! The balance to any willing new resident as was intended under the statehood act. The minimum value to Alaskans at $2,500.00 an acre & all others at $3,500.00 an acre .
This effort is to create opportunity & new wealth / investment in our state. All lands will then change it's liability from the state to private citizens as is the culture & promise afforded to the American way of life! This program adds the transfer of wealth to Alaskan(s) / Other American(s) & provides a larger tax base to local governments for local services! A total win, win. This should generate approximately $1.5 to $1.7 Billion to the states revenues & several million dollars to local services thru property taxes.
4) Cut the University funding to a token $50 million encouraging that they, thru their land grant(s), develop those lands to be self sustainable & do as what was the intent of the grant(s)! This will generate education in resource development training & future jobs to Alaskans benefiting all in private & state resources development & revenue creation. This will save $300 million a year!.
5) Lastly, create additional revenue from sale of resources like (the infested & potential fire risk) timber with the greater in mind development of those lands for agricultural crops to establish food security that is currently dependent on out-of-state sources. This has a savings & benefit to the health & safety to Alaskans and their jobs! Saving $50 million or more a year in expenses of fighting fires protecting state & properties. The warming climate & prevalent condition experienced in Alaska has to be addressed!
All total conservatively, we could realize savings & initial sells of 2.9 billion not to even guess the investment from leaving money in the Earnings Reserve & private investment with new wealth creation!
This Plan holds no copyright, although leaves a lot out of other great Alaskan ideas, I challenge all of us in the Great State to have an IDEA.! More then ever with the Covid-19 shutdown,we cannot linger in the furtherance of the do-nothing approach!
This 5 point, Alaskans Love Of Home Approach (ALOHA) Plan comes from a simple man with 5 generations in Alaska & 55 years of experience loving & living in this Great State, that deserves attention by & for all Alaskans.
Liberty Ed Martin Jr.
Best of luck Alaska!
