| Why
move to Anchorage?
There are some very
diverse and unusual myths circulating around the
United States about Anchorage and Alaska. Many of
these myths come from films, television and nature
footage, and paint a picture of dangerous, vast and
uninhabitable wilderness.
Thousands of people
annually chose to make Anchorage their new home.
Anchorage offers an ideal place to live and work.
The city has a strong and diverse economic base,
affordable living, excellent recreational
activities, a quality education system, a great
healthcare system, low taxes, and cultural and
ethnic diversity.
When
relocating to
Anchorage
, plan
well in advance to ship your household goods and
vehicle–your shipment can take an average of 30 to
45 days to reach
Anchorage
depending on how much you ship and from where you
ship it.
Demographics
Anchorage
’s
population has tripled since statehood, from 83,000
in 1959 to more than 263,000 today. Even though in
the 1990s
Anchorage
added fewer residents than any other decade since the 1950s,
its average growth rate still exceeded most
metropolitan areas in the
United
States
.
Anchorage
is
the largest city in
Alaska
and home to nearly 42 percent of the state’s
population.
Most people live in the city of
Anchorage
.
However, in 1999, 32 percent of the Municipality’s
population lived in
Chugiak-Eagle
River
,
just northeast of the city.
According to the Municipal Department of Community
Planning, faster growth in the satellite communities
of Chugiak-Eagle River and the Matanuska-Susitna
Borough is due partly to lower land costs, the
appeal of a more “rural” lifestyle, and highway
improvements that have made daily commuting faster
and safer.
Anchorage
has traditionally been a community of newcomers.
The age of population averages around 32
years old. The largest age group in
Anchorage
is
35 to 44. The smallest group is seniors (65 plus),
at only 5.5% of the city’s population (Census 2000
Supplementary Survey).
Anchorage
continues to become more ethnically diverse. Racial
and ethnic minorities accounted for about 35 percent
of the total population in 2000. Alaska Natives are
the largest minority group, followed closely by
African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians and Pacific
Islanders.
Nearly
10 percent – 20,800 – of the
Anchorage
population is comprised of members of the military
and their dependents. The number of military
retiree’s totals more than 44,000,
Alaska
remains the top 10 list for veterans per capita
(Source: ALCOM year 2001).
Cost
of Living
According
to the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers
Association (ACCRA) fourth quarter 2001 report, the
cost of living in
Anchorage
averages about 24 percent higher than the national
average. With the national average represented by
the number 100,
Anchorage
earned the following ratings in the Cost of Living
Index:
- All
Items Index: 124.3
- Grocery
Items: 130.6
- Housing:
131.9
- Utilities:
86.7
- Transportation:
113.2
- Health
Care: 154.4
- Miscellaneous
Good and Services: 122.9
Housing
in
Alaska
is one component that drives up overall consumer
costs. Compared
to the rest of the country, dental visits and
gasoline are other high ticket items.
A dentist visit in
Alaska
in 2001 averaged $150.14 vs. $75.84 reported as the
national average.
A dozen
eggs in Anchorage
currently costs about $1.53. A half-gallon of milk
costs $4.49 and bread costs $1.13 a loaf. A gallon of
gas was about $1.56, a McDonald’s quarter-pounder
with cheese costs $2.87, and a pair of Levi’s 501s
will cost approximately $40.
A pizza in Anchorage, it will cost you nearly $11. A first movie, in Anchorage
will cost about $8 per person.
For the best and most current statistics and
economic indicators, review Anchorage Indicators, a
publication of the
Municipality
of
Anchorage
’s Community Planning & Development
Department. The cost is $15 and can be ordered by
calling (907) 343-4309. The Web site for the
Community Planning & Development is www.muni.org.
Another excellent source for learning the makeup of
Anchorage
and
Alaska
communities is the
Alaska
Journal of
Commerce
’s
“Book of Lists”.
It is an excellent source of business
statistics and information that can be ordered by
calling (907) 561-4772.
Employment
and Wages
The average annual
pay in
Anchorage
rose 3.2 percent in 2000 to $36,619. Among the
nation’s 318 metropolitan areas, Anchorage’s pay ranked 36th highest overall but its
percentage gain in pay was one of the lowest
nationwide. The national growth rate for all
metropolitan areas was 6.0 percent.
Annual
pay in Alaska’s
private sector, which comprised 75 percent of the
workforce, averaged $33,478 in 2000, $1,827 less
than the national average of $35,305. (Private
industry employment excludes government workers.)
Over the year, Alaska’s
pay advanced 3.6 percent, considerably slower than
the 6.2 percent increase nationwide.
White-collar
workers averaged $21.14 per hour. Among them,
engineers, architects and surveyors averaged $34.97
per hour, registered nurses $24.42, secretaries
$14.49, and bank tellers $9.17. According
to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Anchorage’s blue-collar workers are still among the highest
paid in the country.
As of May 2002, the average unemployment rate
in
Alaska
was 5.8 percent and Anchorage
was at 4.1 percent.
Blue-collar workers averaged $17.32 per hour but can
range to more than $30 per hour for a foreman or
journeyman position; electricians earn on average,
$24.84 per hour, truck drivers earn $15.83, and
stock handlers and baggers average in at $9.56 per
hour in
Alaska
. Those
working in service occupations earn $12.07 per hour.
Among
the service arena, cooks average $11.22 per hour;
nursing aids, orderlies and attendants $11.05, and
maids and housemen average $9.66.
Taxes
and the Permanent Fund
Anchorage
residents and businesses enjoy the lowest state and
local taxes in the nation. The high level of
royalties and taxes
Alaska
collects from the oil industry contributes
significantly to local and state government funding.
Most Alaskan families receive more income
from
Alaska
’s Permanent Fund investments than they pay in
state and local taxes.
Anchorage
has no sales tax and no state income tax. There is
an 8 percent bed tax, a flat-rate aircraft tax,
rental car tax, alcohol tax, fuel tax and tobacco
tax. Property
taxes on real and personal property are levied on
full assessed value at mill rates that range from
7.91 to 18.15. The average property
tax rate in
Anchorage
in 2002 was 8.95 mills, equivalent to $1,717 for
every $100,000 of assessed value.
The
Alaska Permanent Fund was created in 1976 by a
voter-approved amendment to the state constitution.
It was designed to automatically receive 25
percent of state oil and gas royalties and other
natural-resource revenues. The legislature today has
control over appropriation of earnings but the
principle can be invaded by way of a referendum
voted on in a general election.
Like a savings account in the form of a public
trust, the permanent fund earnings are the source
for dividend payments. Every year, the fund
distributes a portion of the earnings to eligible
Alaska
residents in the form of a dividend check. In order
to qualify for the dividend, a person must be an
Alaska
resident for a minimum of one year and meet other
eligibility requirements.
The amount of the dividend check varies from year to
year depending on the fund’s earnings and the
number of eligible applicants. Since everyone in
Alaska
is an equal beneficiary, residents take a keen
interest in how the fund is managed. At time of
publication the permanent fund was worth more than
$24 billion and is
invested globally in
stocks, bonds and real estate.
In third quarter 2002 the total market value of
the fund earned about $3 million.
The amount each qualified applicant received
in 2002 was about $1500.
For information about Alaska Permanent Fund
Dividend eligibility, call the Department of Revenue
at (907) 269-0370.
Real
Estate and Housing
Anchorage
offers residents an array of housing options and
favorable market rates. With the backdrop of the
Chugach Mountains
, and
Cook Inlet
in the foreground many
Anchorage
homes enjoy views that would command premium prices
in other markets.
In the
Anchorage bowl area, encompassing area from Girdwood
to Eagle River, 2000 census reports
100,368 housing units located in the area,
approximately 37,969 of which are occupied by
renters.
(These figures exclude the military
bases.)
According to AHFC Alaska Market Indicators, (www.ahfc.state.ak.us)
the total single-family housing sales activity for
Anchorage
in 2001 was $1.02 billion with $228.1 million in
condominium sales.
The
Municipality
of
Anchorage
reported the total dollar value of building permits
issued in 2001 at $385 million.
In July 2002,
the average sale price for residential structure in
Anchorage
was $231,719,
and the average days-on-market for a home in
2001 was 73 days.
The average sale price for a single
family home in spring 2002 was $203,544, and
the average condo price was $133,000.
The average apartment rental rate for a one-bedroom
in
Anchorage
including utilities was listed at $669; a
two-bedroom apartment was listed at $810. Rent
for single-family homes ranged from $603
to $828 per month. Furnished units generally run an
additional $100 per month. The AHFC
reported apartment vacancy rate at first quarter
2002 as
6.39 percent.
An
Anchorage
apartment
rental community guide is available at (800)
222-3651 or by visiting www.apartmentbluebook.com
or through the Anchorage
Daily News at www.adn.com.
Several
short-term lease apartments and corporate apartments
are available for people relocating to
Anchorage
including Executive
Suite Hotel, Puffin Place Hotel and
Corporate Comfort.
Utilities
A
full complement of utilities is available within the
Anchorage
area. Two
electric companies provide service, depending on
where you live within the
Municipality
of
Anchorage
. They are:
Municipal Light & Power (ML&P) and
Chugach Electric Association. Residential rates
and deposits differ slightly.
A
municipally owned utility
since
1932, ML&P supplies high-quality and
reliable electric power to more than 30,000
residential and commercial customers in the
Anchorage
area. Since
ML&P is
not a cooperative, the
utility does not charge a membership fee. A
deposit for service is
required,
based on twice the average monthly charges. The
deposit can be waived for customers with good credit
histories. ML&P provides residential electric service for approximately 9.16 cents per kilowatt-hour and charges a $6.56 monthly customer
charge.
Chugach
Electric Association is a not-for-profit,
member-owned cooperative that was formed in 1948.
The utility requires membership and connection fees,
that normally total $20, but waives its standard
deposit for customers with good credit histories.
The cost for residential electric service is $6.25
plus per-kilowatt-hour charges of 10.43 cents.
Most
homes have natural gas-fueled heat.
ENSTAR Natural Gas Company
is the sole provider for
Anchorage
,
servicing some 90-percent of the city’s
population. A deposit based on twice the average monthly natural gas bill of the
dwelling (not to exceed $100 for first-time
customers) is required. The monthly customer charge
is $4.50 plus a volumetric rate of about 41.20
cents per 100 cubic feet of natural gas. The rate
can differ slightly depending on gas cost
adjustments and regulatory charges.
While some homes in
Anchorage
use private wells and septic systems,
the
Municipality
of
Anchorage
owns and operates the Water
and Wastewater Utility serving an approximate
population base of 214,000. The utility offers a
flat monthly rate for residential single family
dwellings of $25.95 for water and $21.33 for sewer
services. Metered commercial customers are billed at a metered rate of $2.64
per 1,000 gallons of water plus a customer charge of
$6.80 and a meter charge based on the size of the
meter.
Anchorage
Municipal Solid Waste Services
and Anchorage Refuse conduct trash removal in the city depending on
location. Rates
are billed quarterly for weekly curbside pick up.
The Municipality charges $15 per month; Anchorage
Refuse currently charges $14.82 per month and
offers roll-cart curbside service for an additional
fee.
The above
rate information was collected in Aug. 2002. It is
for educational purposes only—to show the cost of
living in
Anchorage
. For
complete rate information, contact the companies
directly.
Transportation
Services
Anchorage People Mover provides local
public transportation with 42 peak-hour fixed-route
buses, and 17 routes city wide. More than 1,200 bus
stops and 45 covered bus shelters annually serve 3.3
million residents and visitors. Most buses operate
on 30-minute intervals during peak times and
60-minute intervals during off-peak times. One-way
bus fare is $1.50 for adults or $3.00 for a day pass
good for unlimited bus rides that calendar day.
Monthly adult passes are available at the
Downtown
Transit
Center
(6th &
G St.
) for $40. Discounted
fares are available for seniors, persons with
disabilities and children. The RideLine number for
telephone information is 343-6543.
Through a
public-private partnership, the Ship Creek Shuttle
offers downtown service. People Mover passes are
valid on the shuttle and vice versa.
Call the Share-A-Ride
hotline at 1-907-562-7665 for carpool, vanpool
information and matching.
Call AnchorRIDES at 1-907-343-7433 for
transportation services and travel training for
people with disabilities.
Visit www.peoplemover.org
or call the Ride
Line 343-6543 for additional information.
Ted
Stevens Anchorage International Airport is
equidistant from
Asia
,
Europe
and the southern part of
North America
. It
attracts extremely high levels of international
cargo activity because of its prime location.
Its strategic location on the globe draws
carriers for tech stops as well as for value-added
functions such as sorting and distribution.
Anchorage
serves as a major sorting and transfer hub for Federal
Express and
Northwest Airlines.
In August 2000, the airport saw 2,266 international
cargo landings and 1,308 domestic cargo landings, a
10 percent increase above 1999.
Anchorage
hosts 525 cargo flights weekly and is ranked number
one in the nation and fifth in the world in 2000 for
all-cargo aircraft landed weights.
Anchorage
residents and visitors enjoy high levels of
passenger air service averaging more than 160
domestic passenger flights per day. Several factors
drive this service. Alaskans fly more frequently
than the national average, many communities in the
state have with limited road connections, and
Alaska
continues to remain an attractive, exotic tourist
destination. International passenger traffic remains
strong with numerous flights from
Asia
,
Europe
and
Russia
bringing visitors to the area.
The
airport is currently undergoing major renovations
that are scheduled to be completed within the next
three years. Upon completion, the result will be a
new terminal, expanded baggage claim, more parking
and a new front face. The Alaska Railroad is also constructing a rail terminal at the airport.
Merrill
Field Municipal Airport was the city’s first
airport established in 1930.
With
190,508 flight operations in 2000, Merrill Field was
Alaska
'
s
busiest general aviation airport, as well as the
104th busiest airport in the nation.
The airport services the majority of
Anchorage
’s small aircraft weighing less than 12,500
pounds. With 436 acres located only one mile east of
downtown, it has 1,282 tie-down spaces.
Lake
Hood
is the world’s largest and busiest seaplane base.
It accommodates more than 800 take-offs and landings
on a peak summer day, and offers 315 lake parking
spaces.
Alaska
has about six times as many pilots per capita and 16
times as many aircraft per capita than the rest of
the
United States
. There are 7,755 licensed private pilots in
Alaska
, 47 percent of whom reside in
Anchorage
.
The
Alaska Railroad
is the only full-service railroad in
North
America
providing
both freight and passenger services year-round.
More than 500 mainline miles of track connect
the southern ports of Whittier and Seward with
Anchorage
and north
to
Denali
National
Park
and
Fairbanks
. Branch
lines extend to Eielson Air Force Base, North Pole
approximately 30 miles out of Fairbanks, the
International Airports in
Anchorage
and
Fairbanks, Palmer and to the Usibelli Coal Mine near
Healy in Interior Alaska.
Established
in 1914 and completed in 1923, the Alaska
Railroad was the only railroad built, owned and
operated by the
United
States
government since its inception. In 1985, it was sold
to the State of
Alaska
and was
statutorily mandated to be a self-sustaining entity.
Today,
more than 500,000 passengers ride the Alaska
Railroad to scenic destinations and some
Alaska
communities that are only accessible by rail. These
areas include
Denali
National
Park
and
Preserve and Hurricane.
The
Alaska Railroad transports more than seven million tons of freight
each year including petroleum, gravel, coal, pipe,
heavy equipment and other bulk items. The railroad
also operates a weekly rail-barge service moving
railcars between the Lower 48 states out of the Port
of Seattle, Washington to the rail hub at the Port
of Whittier, Alaska.
Alaska
’s regional port, the
Port
of
Anchorage
, serves more than 80 percent of the state’s
population from Homer to the
North Slope
by means of rail, road and air cargo connections.
The port
contributes an estimated $725 million annually
to
Alaska
’s economy.
(Northern
Economics). In 2002, the Port handled approximately
3 million tons of cargo. More than 90 percent of
consumer goods sold within the
Municipality
of
Anchorage
and rail belt communities are received across the
Port’s docks and maritime terminals. The goods may
then be trucked, hauled by train, flown or barged to
their final destination.
The port
is served by two
U.S.
container lines on a regularly scheduled basis, CSX
L
ines and Totem
Ocean Trailer Express, which bring four to five
vessels a week from the
Pacific Northwest
.
The
Port
of
Anchorage
consistently ranks within the top 25 ports in
North America
, including
San Juan
,
Puerto Rico
, and
Honolulu
,
Hawaii
, for the volume of cargo and number of containers
moved across its docks.
The Port is also the municipal agency
responsible for the administration of Anchorage
Foreign Trade Zone No. 160, which is the only active
Foreign Trade Zone in
Alaska
.
The
Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS)
provides transportation for people, goods and
vehicles with regularly scheduled service among 32
Alaska
communities in addition to
Bellingham
,
WA
and
Prince Rupert
,
British Columbia
.
There are currently nine vessels in the AMHS
fleet. The
system can transport any vehicle that may be legally
driven on a highway. It can also carry some
vehicles, such as construction equipment, which
normally may not be driven on a highway.
There are nearly 15,000 miles of highway throughout
Alaska
.
Anchorage
has easy access to three main “arteries.” The
Seward Highway
designated a National Scenic Byway, winds along the
Turnagain Arm southward to Seward and the
Kenai Peninsula
. The
Glenn Highway
takes drivers through the community of
Eagle
River
and on to the
Matanuska
Valley
where drivers can then take the
George Parks Highway
northbound to
Fairbanks
.
The
Alaska Highway
from
Seattle
, through
Canada
, to
Anchorage
is a beautiful drive. Nearly the entire road is
paved and wide enough for two trucks to pass each
other without one having to pull over. Drivers
planning to take that route should be aware: gas
stations are located approximately 50 miles apart
and roadhouses and inns are numerous. This road for
the adventurous passes through 1,440 miles of
wilderness, and mechanics are few and far between
and gas prices are high.
Roads in
Anchorage
are maintained by both the State of
Alaska
and the Municipality. Except for rural drives
outside city limits, roadways through most
commercial and residential areas are paved. The
city’s traffic system is similar to large cities
across the Lower 48 with typical urban congestion
expected during rush hours. Roads are often covered
with ice and snow during the winter months so
drivers should plan for extended travel times.
Communications
While
Alaska
may seem a
remote location, today’s space-age satellite and
cable communications systems allow
Alaska
to be fully
“connected” to the rest of the world.
Anchorage
is in fact
leading the communications charge; the state is
equipped with the caliber of telecommunications
technologies that will ultimately transform urban
life. Nearly
every community in the state has access to telephones,
televisions, public radio, teleconferences and the
Internet. Two
undersea fiber-optic cables link
Alaska
to the Lower 48 and the world; a third cable has been
in place for many years.
Alaska
has twice the amount of Internet access and doubles
the number of computers per capita than users in the
Lower 48. From Digital Subscriber Line “DSL”
Service to coaxial-cable modem and standard-modem
service, Alaskans use the latest technology.
The
Anchorage
area is served primarily by three Internet service
providers, two cable-and satellite-television
companies, 12 cellular-phone companies and scores of
telecommunications technology services including
network-system specialists, Web page designers,
software creators, and equipment wholesalers and
retailers.
Alaska
Communication Systems, AT&T Alascom, GCI
and
TelAlaska
offer local Internet service.
Most local
communications carriers offer basic telephone service
for approximately $20 dollars per month, including
taxes and surcharges.
Most carriers also offer additional services
such as caller ID, call waiting, call transfer and
voice mail in numerous “bundle type” packages.
Alaska
Communications Systems is the only
facilities-based telecommunications provider in
Alaska
.
Media
Anchorage
is the state’s major media center. It houses 26
radio stations, nine local television stations, pay television services, a major daily newspaper, several business
publications, and alternative newspapers.
The Anchorage Daily News,
Anchorage
’s only daily newspaper and the largest in the
state, is read by more than 85% of adults during the
course of the average week.
It is the primary source of local news, business,
sports and community affairs information in the
Municipality. The
Anchorage Chronicle is the city’s newest weekly
newspaper; it was unveiled in August 2002.
The
towns of
Eagle
River
and Girdwood have their own smaller weekly newspapers.
Anchorage
residents are also served by a number of special
interest publications covering
Anchorage
businesses and news.
Alaska
’s business journal is the
Alaska Journal
of Commerce
. Published
weekly, the Journal has a paid circulation of
approximately 5,000 statewide.
Alaska
Bu
siness Monthly
, with a
circulation of 10,000, is the statewide monthly
business analysis, information, and feature magazine.
The
Anchorage Press
is a local weekly alternative newspaper covering art,
entertainment, recreation and metro feature news.
It has an estimated readership of 50,000.
Anchorage
has six local television affiliates including
KTUU-Channel
2 (NBC),
KTVA
-Channel 11 (CBS);
Alaska
Public
Broadcasting-Channel 7 (KAKM);
UHF-Channel 35, (PAX) UHF Station 33,
KIMO
-Channel 13 (ABC);
KTBY-Channel 4
(Fox); and KYES-Channel
5 (UPN). Four
of the six stations offer local news broadcasts.
GCI is a major
cable service provider for
Anchorage
,
Eagle
River
, Chugiak and the military bases.
Government
Profiles
The
Mayor of Anchorage is George
Wuerch. Mayor Wuerch began his first term as Mayor
of Anchorage in July 2000. He was chair of the Anchorage
Assembly and served as chair of the board of directors
for the
Anchorage Chamber of Commerce
. A decorated, retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, Wuerch
was governmental affairs manager for the Northwest
Alaskan Gasline, the founder and president of Fluor
Daniel Alaska Engineering, and the vice president of
corporate affairs for Alyeska
Pipeline Service Co.
Governor
Frank Murkowski is a long-time Alaskan, elected in
November 2002. He was first elected to the U.S. Senate
in 1980 as
Alaska
’s fifth senator since statehood. He was re-elected
to a third term in 1992. Originally a banker,
Murkowski was appointed Commissioner of the Department
of Economic Development for the State of
Alaska
in 1967.
A
U.S. Senator since 1968, Senator
Ted Stevens is rated sixth in overall seniority
and second among Republicans. He is the former
chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and
the ranking committee member.
From 1997 to 2001, Stevens was one of Congress’
leading overseers of national defense, serving as
Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee; he
continues to serve as a ranking member of the
committee, playing a leading role allocating federal
funds.
Stevens also is one of Congress
'
leading overseers of national defense, serving as
ranking member of the Defense Appropriations
Subcommittee. Stevens
serves on the Appropriations Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, State and
Judiciary; Interior;
L
abor, Health, Human Services and Education; and
L
egislative Branch. He is a member of the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, the
Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, the Senate
Committee on Rules and Administration and serves as
Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee on the
L
ibrary of Congress.
An Alaskan since the early 1950s, Senator Stevens is a
graduate of UC
L
A and
Harvard
L
aw
School
. Stevens practiced law in
Anchorage
and
Fairbanks
, was the U.S. Attorney in
Fairbanks
, and served two terms in the Alaska State
L
egislature. In the Eisenhower administration, Stevens
was Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior and
Solicitor of the Interior Department.
Congressman
Don Young is
serving his 15th term as
Alaska
’s only congressman in the House of Representatives.
In his home of
Fort
Yukon
, a small village located seven miles above the
Arctic Circle
, Young was a teacher for 10 years, served on the city
council, and was mayor in 1964. He served from
1966-1970 in the state House of Representatives and
from 1970-1973 in the state Senate. He is the 10th
highest-ranking member of the House of Representatives
and the 5th highest Republican member.
He serves as the
Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure and as Vice-Chairman of the Committee
on Resources.
Municipality
of Anchorage
In
1975, the city of
Anchorage
and the Greater Anchorage Area Borough unified into the
Municipality
of
Anchorage
(MOA).
The Anchorage Assembly, an elected 11-member body,
performs the legislative functions of the Municipality.
Anchorage
’s mayor heads the administrative branch of the
Municipal government, overseeing the day-to-day
operations of the city. The Municipality operates a full
range of services including police, zoning, animal
control, water, sewer, solid waste and many others.
Anchorage
Assembly
The
Anchorage Assembly acts as the legislative body of the
Municipality. The mayor, under the executive branch of
the Municipality, executes the laws and policies
established by the Assembly. Although the Mayor has the
power to veto policy-making decisions by the Assembly,
the Assembly may overrule the Mayor’s veto by a
two-thirds majority vote. All meetings of the Assembly
are open to the public.
For more information, visit: www.muni.org/assembly2.
Voter
Registration
If
residents choose to make changes to their voter
registration, or are registering to vote for the first
time, registrations forms or updates must be made 30
days prior to an election. A photo identification card
such as a driver’s license, passport, or fishing or
hunting license is required. Social Security cards are
not acceptable. Residents can register or update their
registration at several sites including the Department
of Motor Vehicles,
Municipality
of
Anchorage City Clerk
’s Office or any Municipal library. There is no fee.
For information, contact Division of Elections, Region
II office at (907) 522-8683.
DMV
Registration
Visitors
may use their out-of-state license to drive in
Alaska
for up to 90 days. For those staying more than
90 days, state law requires the driver to obtain an
Alaska
license. For those utilizing a Commercial
Driver’s License, the transfer must take place
within 30 days. For
those who planning to work in
Alaska
, drivers must apply for an Alaska Driver’s License
within 10 days of accepting employment.
The State of
Alaska
requires drivers to obtain
Alaska
license plates within 60 days of arrival. Every
vehicle in
Alaska
is required to be registered unless specifically
exempted by law.
Alaska
has a two-year registration period.
Fees for passenger vehicles are based on the
class of vehicles and weight.
Anchorage
also has a Motor Vehicle Registration Tax that
decreases with the age of the vehicle.
Motor vehicle owners in the
Municipality
of
Anchorage
must also have their vehicles inspected for carbon
monoxide emission prior to registration.
State law requires a
vehicle owner to maintain liability insurance that
provides: $50,000 for bodily injury or death of any
one person, $100,000 for bodily injury or death for
any accident and $25,000 for property damage.
Proof of insurance must be carried in the vehicle at
all times.
Seatbelts must be worn
by all drivers and passengers in all areas of
Alaska
. The Alaska State Troopers have recently
implemented a “Click-It-Or-Ticket” campaign to
enforce the law. All
children under the age of four, regardless of weight,
must ride in a federally approved child safety seat.
Firearms
Information
Residents
and visitors may carry non-concealed firearms for
protection or hunting in
Alaska
. Airline
passengers must declare their firearms and check them
as baggage. Weapons
must be carried in a locked case.
While hunting rifles may be taken into
Canada
, the country does require registration and a fee for
all firearms transported. Canadian law prohibits
transporting handguns and automatic weapons.
Rules and regulations for mailing or shipping
firearms to
Alaska
are complex. Before taking action in this regard,
check carefully with the post office, various shipping
companies and reputable firearms dealers to determine
what can be shipped and how to do it.
Marriage
License Information
To
obtain a marriage license in
Alaska
couples must apply three-business days in advance.
The license is valid for 90 days and can be
used anywhere in the State. There is a $35 application
fee and blood tests are not necessary.
Under
Alaska
| 
Relocation
Hundreds
of people relocate to Anchorage every year
whether to start new jobs, build new lives, or set
their children up in better schools. The Anchorage
Chamber of Commerce provides many newcomers with the information they need
in order to make the right decision about moving.