Assembly, school board oppose tax cap

MAT-SU - If the fate of the tax-cap initiative were left up to the Mat-Su Borough Assembly and school board, it would fail miserably.

During a recent joint meeting between the assembly and school board, the tide was strongly against a statewide ballot measure that would cap property taxes at 10 mills.

Comments came from both sides of the table and both sides of the political spectrum. Borough Manager Mike Scott and School Superintendent Pat Chesbro led the way, citing mass layoffs and elimination of services at both the borough and school level if the proposal were to pass.

Scott told the assembly and school board members state support has diminished over the past decade and that without an alternative source of local revenue, such as a sales tax, the result would be devastating.

You could eliminate the entire borough government and still we wouldnt be at 10 mills, Scott said.

Based on proportional reduction of the entire borough budget from more than 16 mills to 10 mills, around $8 million would have to be cut from schools alone.

School district officials have said this could mean layoffs for a quarter of all custodians, maintenance staff, administrators, teachers and other personnel. In addition, co-curricular activities at all grades would be cut, including sports, and elementary specialists such as nurses and librarians would be eliminated.

With this type of proportional reduction, the borough government would be affected as well.

Youd see entire services shut down, Scott said, adding that 30 percent of borough employees would be without jobs.

School board member Helene Antel Brooks said such widespread layoffs, affecting hundreds of Mat-Su families, would inevitably impact the boroughs economy.

Our entire community will suffer, Brooks said. Our neighbors will have to leave . . . a lot of them.

The closest ally the tax cap had at the meeting was outgoing District 7 assemblyman Doyle Holmes, who said he didnt think the results would be as dire as everyone claimed. He added that whether the measure passes or not, those who vote in favor feel as if they are carrying an unfair amount of the tax burden. They, too, have a right to be heard, he said.

Several members of both the school board and assembly acknowledged Holmes argument, but said the best way to redistribute the tax burden would be to implement a sales tax or other revenue option at the same time as a cap on property taxes.

Both borough and school district officials, attending chamber of commerce and other community forums, have been spreading the word on the potential effects of a 10-mill tax cap. Despite their efforts, some of those at the meeting said they feared voters werent getting the message loudly enough.

I run into people all the time who say, I thought that was just for Anchorage, District 5 assemblywoman Jody Simpson said. She thanked those who have actively spoken out against the tax cap but added, Its an uphill battle.