Subject to an appropriation for this purpose, the director shall conduct a survey, at least every five years, to review the pay differentials established in AS 39.27.020 . The survey may address factors, as determined by the director, that are also relevant in review of state salary schedules, entitlement for beneficiaries of state programs, and payments for state service providers. The survey must reflect the costs of living in various election districts of the state, and Seattle, Washington, by using the cost of living in Anchorage as a base. In this section, "election district" has the meaning given in AS 39.27.020 (b).