Specifications include, but are not limited to: develop a strategic plan for how the Municipality of Anchorage should allocate and use alcohol tax funding, per the three core areas set forth by the Anchorage Charter (Article XIV, Section 14.07. Alcoholic beverages retail sales tax). The resulting plan will become an ongoing guiding document, followed year over year, with periodic updates or shifting of priorities in future years. It will ensure community input, transparency, and efficient use of the funds. This strategic process should address the following: 1. Strength Transparency and Accountability: How does the public know the alcohol tax is being invested as voters intended? 2. Demonstrate Progress with Metrics: Identify metrics of success, paths for collaboration, and systems that ensure transparency to reduce the confusion in how these funds will be utilized and provide neighbors, social service organizations and the future leaders of our Municipality a road map to a healthier and safer future for Anchorage. 3. Invest in Mental Health Services and Treatment and Prevention of Substance Misuse: In the first two years of the program, no dedicated funding was directed to this key area. To address this issue in 2023, the third “bucket” of funding was split into two subcategories: 1) Mental Health and Substance Misuse, and 2) Homelessness. To further develop this prong of the alcohol tax, this plan should develop a community assessment and plan, outlining where and how to invest funds in mental health and substance misuse to achieve a long-term reduction in substance misuse. 4. Public Safety Investments: The alcohol tax provides funding for police, related criminal justice personnel, and first responders. Is there a way to re-envision public safety funding within the alcohol tax and solicit more creative solutions in this area beyond funding additional staffing for traditional approaches?] 5. Funding and Decision-Making Process: How is the Theory of Positive Change being used to ensure tax revenue is spent pursuant to the enabling legislation and directed to support programs that are most effective? How is the distribution of these funds tied to a larger goal, thereby leveraging the alcohol tax funding to most effective? How is the fund balance moved forward and allocated if there are unspent funds at the end of the year? How is the public engaged in this work?
