The Delta News Web -- Facts, News, Opinions and More from Delta Junction, Alaska

Editor's Note: This page and the "YES Deltana Borough" pages are for readers to communicate their opinions about the proposed borough.  Anyone may submit an opinion article for this page.  Opinion items may not exceed 500 words.  Your article may be anonymous if you wish, but we will only publish items if we know who they come from.  Articles must be submitted to webeditor@deltanewsweb.com Articles that defame individuals will not be published.

Paying our Share?
June 25, 2007

We have heard State Senator Gary Wilkens speaking and writing about how the people of Delta Junction have not been paying their own way and the State of Alaska thinks of us a welfare community. How many of you believe this message? Well, why don't we look at this situation a little closer and see just where we stand as a welfare community.

I think the first thought might be the question, "Who does all this money in the State coffers belong to?" Does it belong to Sen. Wilkens? Does it belong to the legislature? Does it belong to the Governor? The answer to all of the above is NO. All funds funneled into the State treasury belongs to the people of Alaska. The part of the oil pipeline that passes through Delta Junction has raise Millions upon Millions of dollars since its construction. This money is money that could and should be paid to the people of the Delta Junction area. So if the State money belongs to the people of Alaska, and the pipe line that runs through Delta brings in millions of dollars, then my guess we may not be on welfare.

Now we should also look at the fact that Fairbanks and Anchorage two other cities in Alaska receive almost 10 times as much money from the State per capita. That means that if Delta Junction receives one million dollars then Anchorage receives about six hundred seventy five million multiplied by ten. I have trouble counting that high but our State Government handles it just fine. Now does that make you feel better about being a welfare community? If the State takes our money and puts it in a State account and then sends it back to us how does that become welfare?

If we look further into the facts surrounding our community we find that there are about 1000 full time employed full time residents. How can 1000 people carry the load of the cost incurred by a Home Rule Borough? The State will cut funding for the schools based on a 4 mil equivalent tax base, so the Borough will have to replace these funds. The Borough will have to replace these funds with tax dollars collected from the borough residents. How much will it cost to operate the Borough to collect these taxes? Thus it becomes a never ending cycle of ever increasing taxes to support the collection of the taxes. There has to be a better way!

Submitted by: * ALASKANS FOR FREEDOM AND REFORM

No Loose Ends - No Regrets
June 25, 2007

As we approach the time in Delta Junction for a vote concerning the proposed Deltana Borough, it is inevitable that rumors will be started to try and cause a fear vote. Someone has started a rumor that if we vote against this Deltana Borough charter, we will lose our annual Alaskan Permanent Fund Dividend. This is completely false. Should anyone be in doubt about this statement, please call the PFD office in Fairbanks to get a straight answer.

Many people are wondering why citizens who are anti-borough are registering to run for the proposed Deltana Borough Assembly and the Mayoral position(s). It is evident with the mail-out and mail-in vote, that we have a vast chance of some drastic errors in the vote. There will be many ballots mailed to people that live outside the Borough and the State of Alaska, or people that have no vested interest in Delta Junction, and these votes would be cast by uninformed or uncaring voters which may swing the election either way.

Registered voters in the proposed Deltana Borough received a notice of election for the Deltana Borough incorporation from the State Elections office. This notice itemizes the issues addressed by the election. Voters will not only choose whether to accept this Deltana Borough proposal but also simultaneously require us to decide who will fill the newly created offices should the Deltana Borough vote pass.

It is our fervent hope that the proposal fails and the Deltana Borough elected positions be left unfilled. However, in the event that it does not, the community will need diligent people in the Deltana Borough seats and offices who will be trusted with important subjects such as expanding government regulations and tax rates. Be watching for information on where candidates stand on issues that will affect us and all future residents of a Deltana Borough.

It has become very evident to both Pro-Borough and No-Borough groups that the State of Alaska Government, and its agencies, have NO care of what the People of Alaska desire nor do they abide by their own rules. This Deltana Borough issue has become much like the Amnesty issues in our American Congress. Both the American Congress and the Alaska Legislature are trying to force what is best for their own pockets, and big business regardless of what citizen's desire.

The great questions here are can we trust the Mail out vote to be HONEST, CORRECT and ACCURATE? Can we trust the State with our future? Do we want to place our future and that of future generations in the hands of a government that will not abide by its own rules, but expects and forces us to do so? Do we really want to form a new arm of government under these conditions?

Submitted by: * ALASKANS FOR FREEDOM AND REFORM