Bonds deserve our support

To the editor:

Oct. 5 is an election day in the Mat-Su Borough. In addition to school board and borough assembly there are five ballot propositions. Propositions 2, 3 and 4 are capital projects that deserve serious consideration by voters. At first glance voters may think that the projects are not affordable, especially in a struggling economy. I suggest that the sluggish economy is a key reason to support these transportation and capital bonds.

The state reimburses 70 percent of the cost significantly reducing the cost to local taxpayers. Thus Proposition No. 3, which will impact 19 of our 44 school sites with projects ranging from flooring replacement and roof repairs to fire alarm upgrades and asbestos abatement, will require only $10 million of the total $33.9 million price tag! Thank you state of Alaska! The same 70-30 support from the state will allow our five high schools to replace worn tracks and replace sod football fields at Colony High School, Palmer High School and Wasilla High School with artificial turf like the six that already exist in Anchorage, all for a mere $3.05 per $100,000 of assessed property value. That’s the cost of a latte!

My No. 1 reason to support the bonds is the economy! Whenever we have an opportunity to infuse money into our economy from outside our community we all benefit. In addition to improving the infrastructure of our roads and schools we bring in outside dollars that contribute to the creation of jobs. Construction jobs are the direct result of these $35 million “state” dollars. However, these same workers live here and shop here circulating a good part of those $35 million dollars buying food, gasoline and other goods and services! The upgraded tracks and fields will bring many teams and events to our community and those visitors stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and shop in our stores!

Any community group (MYAC, Pop Warner, Valley Youth, etc…) that uses fields will be the biggest winners as these fields and tracks belong to the community. Presently, the fields are over used (just look at any 50 yard line if you can find it in the dirt) and sometimes not available as we try to nurture the fragile turf. Our schools and fields are assets to be utilized by our community, not just our schools!

Another reason to invest in these capital projects is that they will only become more expensive in the future.

An elementary school built in 2000 (Larson Elementary) cost $9 million, a similar one built in 2005 (Shaw Elementary) cost $13 million, a 40 percent increase in five short years. In a struggling economy these projects cost less and the cost is certain to go up in the future. The needs will not go away as our community continues to grow and our infrastructure continues to age. If we do not approve these bonds and allow the state to pick up 70 percent of the tab we will be in the position to either not address these needs or consider paying for 100 percent of the projects with local funds. Some of the projects will need to be done.

Leaky roofs have to be repaired. Fire alarms have to be installed. We can do it now or we can do it later. It will cost us a lot more later!

Please consider voting YES on Propositions No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 on Oct. 5.

Karl Schleich

Wasilla