Tammie Wilson Proposes Extending Voter Authority

(Juneau) - Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, today introduced HJR 41, which would amend the Alaska State Constitution to require voter approval of any proposed government boundary changes.

Property owners should not be forced into a new layer of government. People deserve a vote.

HJR 41 inserts a democratic component into the process of modifying or annexing residential or commercial zones. "Nearly every region of the state has had to deal with contentious annexation decisions," Wilson said. "Property owners should not be forced into a new layer of government. People deserve a vote."

Rep. Wilson recently introduced HJR 39, addressing the recent decision by the Local Boundary Commission regarding the annexation of a residential and commercial district into a different emergency services area in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. "Government land grabs should be illegal," Wilson said. "The difference between these two resolutions is that HJR 39 addresses the specific instance underway in the Interior. Introducing HJR 41 addresses the process of government boundary change itself."

HJR 41 has been referred to the House Community & Regional Affairs Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Finance Committee. A copy of the resolution has been attached.