ALASKA and nonprofit affairs of Alaska Natives. They Alaska ranks 48th among the states in number were established under a federal law, the of local governments, with 177 active as of Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. There are October 2007. 12 regional corporations that cover the entire state, except for Annette Islands Reserve, BOROUGH GOVERNMENTS (14) which is an American Indian reservation. A thirteenth regional corporation was established The borough governments in Alaska resemble for Alaska Natives who are not permanent county governments in other states. However, residents of the state and who have not the borough governments do not encompass enrolled in one of the other 12 regional the entire area of the state. The following areas corporations. These corporate entities are not of the state are located outside the areas counted as governments for census purposes. served by borough governments: Alaska Native Villages are tribes, bands, clans, Areas served by consolidated city-borough groups, villages, communities, or associations governments in Alaska that are recognized under the Alaska Areas within the "unorganized borough" Native Claims Settlement Act. Alaska Native Villages do not cross Alaska Native Regional There are three consolidated city-borough Corporation boundaries. These entities are not governments in Alaska: Anchorage, Juneau, counted as governments for census purposes. and Sitka. These three governments are counted for census reporting as municipal SUBBOROUGH GENERAL PURPOSE governments rather than as borough GOVERNMENTS (148) governments. Alaska statutes treat all areas of the state outside the boundaries of organized Municipal Governments (148) borough or consolidated city-borough governments as a single "unorganized The term "municipality," as defined for census borough." statistics on governments, applies only to the cities in Alaska. Boroughs, to which the term The borough governments in Alaska are "municipality" is applied by Alaska statutes, are classified, according to their governmental counted for census purposes as a separate powers, as home-rule, first-class, second-class, type of government (see "Borough or third-class boroughs. Each borough is Governments," above). Cities may exist either administered by a borough assembly. For inside or outside the boundaries of organized purposes of population statistics, Alaska is boroughs. First-class and home-rule cities divided into 27 ‘‘county equivalents.’’ Each area located outside the boundaries of organized served by a borough or consolidated city- boroughs have powers of property assessment borough government constitutes a separate and tax collection. All cities outside borough county equivalent. In addition, the unorganized boundaries may plan, zone, and carry out the borough is divided into 11 census areas, each powers granted to Alaska cities generally. of which is classified as a county equivalent for purposes of population statistics. These 11 Cities are classified as follows: census areas are not counted as governments. Home-rule cities--first-class cities under a Alaska Native Regional Corporations are home-rule charter corporate entities that conduct the business First-class cities--400 or more permanent inhabitants, and that elect to become cities of the first class Second-class cities--other cities

1 There is no statutory minimum population The public schools in Alaska located outside requirement for incorporation, but cities must the territory of borough or city school systems include all areas needed to provide municipal are administered by regional educational services efficiently, must have the resources attendance area boards. Although these 17 needed to provide municipal services, must boards are elected, their fiscal requirements are have a population sufficiently stable to support met by state appropriations; they are therefore city government, and must demonstrate a need classified as dependent agencies of the state for city government. government for census purposes and are not counted as separate governments. Township Governments (0) Other Educational Activities Alaska has no township governments. Community colleges, which are financed jointly PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS (54) by the state government and the local public school system, are classified in census School District Governments (0) statistics as state government activities and are administered by the University of Alaska. They Alaska has no independent school district are not counted as separate governments. governments. The regional resource centers in Alaska are Dependent Public School Systems (54) established by agreement between participating public school systems. A board consisting of Alaska statutes provide for the following types one representative of each participating system of dependent public school systems: governs each center. These centers are financed by contributions from participating Systems dependent on borough governments: systems and by state and federal grants. For Borough school districts census purposes, regional resource centers are Ilisagvik College classified as joint educational service agencies of participating public school systems and are Systems dependent on municipal governments: not counted as separate governments. City school districts (in home-rule or first-class cities in the unorganized borough) The Special Education Service Agency is a state dependent agency that was created by an Systems dependent on the state government: act of the legislature to provide special Regional educational attendance area education services. The agency may receive boards. state appropriations on a per student basis.

The borough and city school districts in Alaska SPECIAL DISTRICT GOVERNMENTS (15) are classified for census purposes as dependent agencies of the borough or city Alaska statutes authorize the creation of governments they serve and are not counted as districts or authorities that are counted as separate governments. Although these districts governments. These are discussed in detail are administered by elected boards, their fiscal below. requirements are finally determined and met by the sponsoring borough or city governments. In Joint Action Agencies addition the Ilisagvik College was established by the North Slope Borough. Joint action agencies to provide electric power may be formed by two or more public utilities. They are governed by a board jointly appointed by member utilities. They may set rates and

2 charges in connection with their projects and Alaska Industrial Development and Export may issue revenue bonds. Authority (state). This authority was created by act of the legislature to assist in the Regional Electrical Authorities financing of industrial, export, and business enterprises. The authority board consists of the Regional electrical authorities may be created commissioner of community economic by resolution of a native association to provide development and the commissioner of revenue, electric power. The commissioners of the who serve in an ex officio capacity, plus two authority are appointed by the governing body public members appointed by the Governor. of the native association. The authority may fix The authority may fix rentals and issue revenue rates, fees, rentals, and other charges and may bonds. issue revenue bonds. Alaska Natural Resource Conservation and Regional Native Housing Authorities Development Board and soil and water conservation districts (state). This board Regional native housing authorities may be was created by an act of legislature. The board formed by resolution of a native association to consists of five members, selected from the five provide housing and community facilities in major land areas of the state, appointed by the native villages. The commissioners of the Governor and confirmed by a majority of the authority are appointed by the governing body legislature. The commissioner of the of the native association. The authority may fix department of natural resources is a nonvoting rentals and issue revenue bonds. member who serves in ex officio capacity. The commissioner may receive state and federal SUBORDINATE AGENCIES AND AREAS contributions. Soil and water conservation districts are created by the commissioner upon Shown below are various government petition of land users, after public hearing. A designations in Alaska that have certain board of five elected supervisors governs each characteristics of governmental units, but which district. The commissioner may delegate such are classified in statistics as subordinate powers to the districts as deemed necessary. agencies of the state or local governments and are not counted as governments. Legal Other examples include: provisions for some of the larger of these are discussed below (see "Public School Systems," State above, regarding educational agencies of this nature). Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation Alaska Energy Authority (formerly Alaska Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (state). Power Authority) This corporation, authorized by act of the Alaska Medical Facility Authority legislature, was created to provide mortgage Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority credit for low and moderate income housing. Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority The corporation consists of a board of seven Alaska Railroad Corporation directors, four of whom are appointed by the Alaska Student Loan Corporation governor, plus the commissioner of revenue, Grazing districts the commissioner of community and regional Health units and districts affairs, and the commissioner of health and Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority social services, who serve in an ex officio Regional resource development authorities capacity. The corporation may collect charges Service areas in the unorganized borough and fees in connection with the loans it makes and may issue revenue bonds.

3 Borough Municipal

Historical districts Port authorities Historical districts Service areas Port authorities Special assessment districts Special assessment districts

Alaska laws also provide for various types of local areas for election purposes and for administration of justice.

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