Assembly sets dates for budget public hearings; approves required local contribution to school budget with more to come

The Matanuska Borough Assembly approved a number of administrative actions in its April 21 meeting, among those the setting of a $52.95 million local contribution to the Matanuska Susitna Borough School district’s FY 2027 budget, which is the amount required under state law based on local property valuations.

The school district has asked for a $87.4 million local contribution for its proposed $274.4 million Fiscal Year 2027 budget and the assembly may approve more than the minimum required contribution but that decision will come in late May when the amount of state funding is known and budgets are finalized.

The assembly also approved dates and locations for public hearings on the borough’s upcoming Fiscal Year 2027 budget, which will also include the property tax mill levy needed fund the budget along with the wireless surcharge to support enhanced 911 emergency call systems. Public hearings have been set for April 23 at the Willow Community Center; April 28 at the Menard Sports Complex in Wasilla and April 30 at the borough assembly chambers in Palmer.

In actions sure to be popular with local residents, the assembly directed borough manager Mike Brown to acquire land on Wolf Lake from the Alaska State Department of Natural Resources to develop and manage a larger Wolf Lake park. There is a small park now at Wolf Lake donated by the Kerttula family in the 1970s but access is limited.

Acquisition of the state land by the borough will allow for a larger park and better access. The area is popular for family recreation and picnics, people speaking in the Audience Participation part of the assembly meeting said.

Related to parks and recreation the assembly also approved an application by the borough for a grant from the Rasmuson Foundation for the Matanuska River Park and Campground.

In other actions, the assembly formally accepted and appropriated disaster relief funds received from the Alaska State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for $823,135.48 for the January 2022 Mat-Su windstorm disaster. An agreement was approved for improvements at the Talkeetna airport, and the assembly also accepted an appropriation of $28,792.55 from the Alaska State Division of Forestry, Volunteer Fire Capacity Grant Program while also appropriating $2,879.25 In matching funds for firefighter and firefighting equipment and supplies.

A grant of $175,000 from the Alaska State Department of Military And Veteran's Affairs, Emergency Management division was accepted and the assembly also approved a reappropriation of $175,000 from the borough’s Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget for emergency management wages and benefits.

In another action the assembly directed borough manager Brown to determine costs and requirements subdividing the Tanaina

Elementary School property into multiple lots for a land sale to the YMCA of Alaska and the Tanaina Community Council. The properties would be used for public purposes.

The assembly also approved $75,850 in additional costs paid to Matanuska Electric Association for utility relocations along the Crimsonview Drive, South Vermillon Drive, South Thalo Drive and South Ochre Drive reconstruction projects in the Colony Road Service Area. The completion date for the project was also extended to August 31.

Also, a bid of $1.897 million was accepted from Tutka LLC to construct the phase one Fern Street upgrades and pathways. Connected with tht project, Lounsberry and Associates was awarded a contract for $175,220 to provide construction management services for the Fern Street phase one improvements.

Public hearings pending matters were also set for the assembly’s May 5 meeting. They include:

• Accepting a grant of $250,000 from the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation for the Government Peak Recreation trail traverse and the Skeetawk summer trails survey project

• Reappropriation of $125,000 from the borough planning department budget for the Port MacKenzie Master Plan update