I believe we can do it. I have heard good reports, from a variety of sources in Juneau, on the cooperation that s taking place, and I want to congratulate and thank the governor and the legislature for your leadership and for the bipartisan tone you ve set for addressing this important issue. I particularly appreciate the focus of this forum being on the state of the economy as a whole. Local governments, including school districts, employ nearly 35,000 Alaskans. Alaskans that live in our communities, work in our communities, and contribute to our communities and our economy.
Local government provides more than half of the public services in the state.
And, while state and federal revenues to local government are decreasing, local government revenues are increasing and are expected to continue to increase. Because we are experiencing economic growth and population increases. With economic growth and population increases comes a need, in some cases, a demand, in others, for additional government services, ranging from education and public safety to public utilities, roads, planning and zoning, recreation and senior services. We believe local governments and local government programs have been disproportionally impacted in the state budgeting process. All of this has resulted in increased local taxes.