Representative Bob Millers' E-Newsletter

The recent St. Baldrick’s event was a huge success. Our team raised over $30,000 to help fund research for kids experiencing the terrible effects of cancer. I was very happy to be part of the Alaska Legislature team and your donations helped us raise more money than several other teams throughout Alaska. This healthy competition raised thousands for a great cause, although I am still getting used to being bald. Here’s a link to my page.

Investing in our Youth

I feel it is worth mentioning the hard work Senator Joe Thomas is doing on SB84. This raises the Base Student Allocation (the amount school districts get per student) and creates a new funding stream for High School Vocational Education. If this bill stays in its current form, it will roughly increase the BSA by 2% each year to keep up with rising costs; $110 this year, $115 next year and $120 the year after that. The current Base Student Allocation is $5,680.

The new funding stream for High School Vocational Education is important because, the money is currently in the same pot with money for special education, gifted and talented and bilingual education. Because of required federal mandates, much of that money ends up going to special education. By creating a new funding stream, we guarantee money for high school vocational education programs by thinking in terms of forward funding.

SB 84 also creates a vocational education funding stream for high school students, by adding Vocational Education to the basic funding formula.

Young people are 25% of our population but they are 100% of our future.

Volume 6 Video Update: A new look, Interior Delegation, Base Student Allocation and HB 110

A visit from U.S. Senator Mark Begich

PFD Filing Ends March 31!

Don’t forget to apply for your 2011 Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend! The application period ends March 31 at 11:59 pm. You can apply online by clicking here.

Don’t forget to Pick, Click Give! You can share a portion of your dividend with some of the great non-profit agencies and educational institutions that help make Fairbanks a better place to live.

“Choose Respect” Event

April is Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month to raise awareness, educate, and to end violence in our communities. I encourage all community members to participate in the “Choose Respect” event on Thursday, March 31.

Date and Time: March 31, Noon

Location: Golden Heart Plaza

Contact: Melissa Stepovich in the Governor's Office at 907-451-2920

Sponsored by: Governor's Office, Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living

Alaska Redistricting Board

The Alaska Redistricting Board is responsible for redrawing the boundaries of state legislative districts. Members are assigned the task of reviewing the 2010 Census data and changing the boundaries of legislative districts so that each member of the House represents an area that contains about 17,755 people. This number is determined by dividing the statewide population of 710,231 by Alaska's 40 House Districts. Each Senate District is to contain, as close as possible, two contiguous House Districts. The census figures could lead to any number of changes depending upon how the lines are drawn. The way the community is carved up has a direct impact on the make-up of the legislature.

The Board will hold a public hearing in Fairbanks from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m., Monday, March 28, at the Fairbanks City Hall Chambers. Map

The Statewide teleconference will be held from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. on March 31 via the Alaska Legislative Information Office Network. Alaskans who do not have access to a local LIO may provide comments via the toll free number--(855) 463-5009. Because of a limited number of lines available, those who testify via the toll-free number will be required to hang up immediately following their testimony and then listen to the audio-stream at http://alaskalegislature.tv/