Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
Fairbanks Borough voters face two propositions on Tuesday’s municipal election ballot. Proposition A would prevent the borough from banning, or fining residents for using polluting heating devices. It’s aimed at an air quality ordinance passed by the assembly in June that includes nominal pollution fines, and a ban on purchase and installation of non Environmental Protection Agency approved wood stoves and boilers. The borough is trying to get into compliance with E.P.A. fine particulate pollution regulations that are regularly violated in areas of Fairbanks during cold weather inversions.
Proposition A co-sponsor and state representative Tammie Wilson says the initiative was put on the ballot by citizen’s concerned about enforcement of pollution measures at a time when people are struggling to afford to heat their homes.
Last fall borough voters supported a ballot proposition that put control of local air quality in the hands of borough government, and Passage of this year’s measure could result in punitive aspects of the program being handled by the state.
The other proposition on borough ballots tomorrow is familiar to local voters. Prop B re-affirms the existing borough tax revenue cap. The Interior Taxpayers Association, which originally developed the tax cap and got it on the ballot more than 20 years ago, puts it before voters every two years.
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