Anchorage Municipal Election
Tuesday, April 4th 2023

A bond proposition for the Anchorage School District capital improvement budget, which would fund projects including roof replacements and structural/seismic upgrades at College Gate, Kasuun and Kincaid Elementary Schools as well as safety improvements at Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School. Property owners throughout the Municipality of Anchorage would be taxed for these bonds.

Public safety and transit improvements. A tax increase for $0.96 per $100,000 of property value for taxpayers. Public Safety and Transit improvements in Anchorage and Chugiak and Eagle River. A tax increase for $0.59 per $100,000 of property value for taxpayers. A bond proposition for public safety equipment in the Anchorage and Chugiak Eagle River Service Areas.

Upgrading roads and drainage in the municipality. A tax increase for $9.33 per $100,000 of property value for taxpayers. Only property owners in the ARDSA would be taxed for these bonds. The ARDSA includes much of the Anchorage Bowl. It does not include Girdwood and Eagle River/Chugiak.

These bonds would pay for acquiring replacement fire engines and making AFD facility improvements in the Anchorage Fire Service Area (AFSA). For each $100,000 of assessed property value in the AFSA (based on the estimated 2023 assessed valuation in the AFSA), the estimated annual increase in taxes is $0.59 to retire the proposed bond. There are no new operation and maintenance (O&M) costs. Only property owners in the AFSA would be taxed for these bonds.

These bonds would pay for acquiring a rescue truck for the Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department in the Chugiak Fire Service Area. For each $100,000 of assessed property value in the Chugiak Eagle River Service Area (based on the estimated 2023 assessed valuation in the Chugiak Eagle River Service Area), the estimated annual increase in taxes is $2.53 to retire the proposed bonds. There are no new operation and maintenance (O&M) costs. Only property owners in the Chugiak Fire Service Area would be taxed for these bonds. There is no cost to properties in Anchorage, Girdwood Valley and other areas outside the service area.

This ballot proposition would create the Chugach State Park Access Service Area (CASA), to include all areas of the Municipality north of McHugh Creek, but excluding Fire Island, areas currently contained within the Eagle River-Chugiak Park and Recreational and Girdwood Valley Service Areas, and excluding areas of the Municipality within Tax District 15 (which contains Rainbow, Indian, Bird Creek, and Portage). Creation of the service area would allow the Municipality to submit to voters bond propositions for projects that support access to portions of Chugach State Park that are located in the service area and ameliorate the neighborhood effects of access by park users. Projects could include road and parking improvements, park access, and amenities to support park access. The service area would not levy taxes upon approval of this proposition; taxes may only be levied if voters subsequently approve a proposition that authorizes levying and spending generally or for a particular project or projects and an annual tax levy for the maintenance and operations of the approved improvements constructed.

This ballot proposition is specific to residents of the Girdwood Valley Service Area (GVSA) to expand the power of the service area to provide a study, recommend and provide services in support of developing local housing policy. To be voted on by qualified voters residing in the Girdwood Valley Service Area.

This proposition would annex five (5) properties within the Grandeur Subdivision, Lot 1 (020-571-61-000), Lot 2 (020-571-62-000), Lot 3 (020-571-63-000), Lot 4 (020-571-64-000), and Lot 5 (020-571-65-0001) to the Rabbit Crew View and Rabbit Creek Heights LRSA and amend the Rabbit Creek View and Rabbit Creek Heights LRSA boundaries, effective retroactive to January 1, 2023. To be voted on by qualified voters in the Rabbit Creek View and Rabbit Creek Heights LRSA and the Grandeur Subdivision Lots 1 through 5.

This proposition will annex two Spruce Terraces Subdivision parcels to the South Goldenview RRSA. The annexation will amend the boundaries of South Goldenview RRSA through the annexation of parcel numbers 020-043-02-000 and 020-043-03-000 of the Spruce Terraces Subdivision, effective retroactive to January 1, 2023. To be voted on by qualified voters in the South Goldenview RRSA and the Spruce Terraces Subdivision parcels, numbers 020-043-02-000 and 020-043-03-000.

This proposition will amend the boundaries of the Lakehill LRSA by de-annexing Cromwell Heights Subdivision Block 1, Lots 1 and 2 from the Lakehill LRSA, effective retroactive to January 1, 2023. To be voted on by qualified voters in the Lakehill LRSA.

This ballot would propose several changes to the Anchorage Charter Section 13.11. The proposition would change the management authority of the MOA Trust Fund from the Treasurer, a single person, to a fiduciary board. It would require the fiduciary board to advise both the administration and assembly. It would require the Trust be managed consistent with the Uniform Prudent Investor Act which specifies principles and standards governing the conduct of fiduciaries serving investment funds. Confirm that Municipal Code Chapter 6.50 will be the vehicle by which the fund shall be invested and managed. Allows for a one-year transition period in order to provide adequate time to transition from the sole fiduciary to a new Board of Trustees.

In 2022, the property values for the majority of residential property owners in the Municipality increased, often by more than 10%. Due to a drop in mil rates, most owners saw their taxes remain flat or decrease slightly, but some owners did see a rise in their tax bill. To benefit all residents, this proposition would increase the residential real property tax exemption from the current twenty percent (20%) of the assessed value to forty percent (40%) of the assessed value, up to a maximum of $75,000. By increasing the exemption percentage to forty, residential properties with an assessed value less than $187,500 will see the exemption double. Residential properties with an assessed value equal to or greater than $187,500 will receive the maximum exemption of $75,000. It is expected that the change will benefit all properties up to $800,000 in assessed value. If passed, the increased exemption will be retroactive to January 1, 2023.

This ordinance will make changes to the Anchorage Municipal Charter regarding filling vacancies on the Assembly and in the office of Mayor. These changes include:

• Change the period for holding a special election to fill a vacancy on the Assembly from not more than 60 days after a vacancy occurs to no sooner than 90 days;
• Revise the requirements for electing a successor when there is a vacancy in the office of Mayor;
• Allow the Assembly to appoint a person to the chair’s Assembly District seat during service as acting mayor;
• At the end of that service, direct that the Assembly chair and vice chair positions return to those holding them at the time the vacancy in the office of mayor occurred; and 
• Allow costs for special elections for these offices to be paid for by property taxes collected above the tax cap, excluding these costs from the tax increase limitation calculation.

The new section would:

• Dedicate retail marijuana sales tax net proceeds for child care and early education;
• Establish an Accountability Board of Child Care and Early Education and define its composition and purpose; 
• Dedicate the net retail marijuana sales tax revenues to this board’s budgeted activities; 
• Move the marijuana sales taxes from under the tax increase limitation (tax cap) calculation to be above the tax cap and lower the tax cap one time by $1,000,000 in 2024; and 
• Lower the maximum tax on all retail sales of marijuana and marijuana products from 12% to 10% of the sales price. The initial rate of levy remains 5% which may not be increased until after June 2028.

These bonds will pay the costs of renovating and rehabilitating trails and parks, and making improvements at various parks and recreation facilities in the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Service Area (APRSA). For each $100,000 of assessed property value in the APRSA (based on the estimated 2023 assessed valuation in the APRSA), the estimated annual increase in taxes is $0.96 to retire the proposed bonds and an annual increase in the municipal tax cap of $0.62 to pay for additional annual operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, not to exceed $195,000. Only property owners in the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Service Area (APRSA) would be taxed for these bonds. There would be no cost to property owners in Chugiak, Eagle River, Girdwood, and other areas outside APRSA.