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HB
366:
17% rate increase SPENDING
bill for assisted care facilities
POM:
Please do NOT support this bill. The proposed 17% increase is well above
rate of inflation. Furthermore, the current $60 per day should be MORE
than enough to provide this service. We may need to completely eliminate
this program if rates increase beyond our ability to pay. Thank you.
Mike McBride; Kenai
Written Testimony to House Health, Education, & Social Services Committee:
Please do NOT support HB 366. The proposed 17% increase is well above rate
of inflation. Furthermore, the current $60 per day should be MORE than
enough to provide this service. In the future, recipient contributions should
be increased to offset inflation, or we may need to completely eliminate
this program if rates increase beyond our ability to pay.
Given the Governor's proposed budget, and fiscal notes attached to bills
currently pending before the Alaska Legislature, this year's spending could
easily exceed $7,500,000,000. If you divide $7,500,000,000 by the number
of people who applied for a PFD in 2000 (607,596), it comes out to a whopping
$12,344.00 being spent for every man, woman, and child in the state! For
a
family of four that equals $49,375.00! We all need to think about that
number for a minute, and ask ourselves, are we really getting our money's
worth? The majority of Alaskan voters I polled said, "NO"! The cost of funding
HB 366 will only put an unnecessary burden on an already swollen budget.
We also need to think about who is going to pay for this bill. Right now,
taxes are NOT the answer. Using Department of Labor statistics, it appears
there are currently only about 279,000 potential taxpayers in the entire
State. Assuming 100% employment, and no other funding sources, the bill taxpayers
would get to cover a $7,500,000,000 budget would be about $26,882 each!
Once all the oil money has been spent, and this budget is adjusted for inflation,
you will find a population unable to continue living in Alaska because it
COST TOO MUCH! Please think about the future, then vote NO on this and ALL
non-essential spending bills that come before you this session. Thank you.
Mike McBride; Kenai
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