Mark Begich on Crime Democratic Challenger

Added $5M and 13 more police to Anchorage budget

The $435 million budget is almost $5 million less than originally proposed last year, but it's still an increase to last year's budget. $5 million in a $435 million dollar budget accounts for about 1%. While it's a significant amount of money, it's not a significant variation across the scope of the budget.

As the city grows, some say the police force needs to do the same. Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich said, "The taxpayers in this community are willing to pay for those type of services if they get results, and I think that's what we're delivering too." Begich is delivering a 2009 city budget with 13 more police officers, adding to the city's long-term goal of 93.

Throughout all the changes & adjustments made to the budget, for the past year Begich has repeatedly called for new public safety proposals

Added city police; pushed anti-gang & cyber-crime units

He founded the Making a Difference Program, which seeks to set straight first-time juvenile offenders; 90% of the youth who go through the program do not re-offend.