Four Ballot Propositions for the upcoming regular election

While there has been an abundance of signage and political ads for candidates and statewide ballot measures for the upcoming elections, there are also four propositions for voters to decide on next week. Here is a quick breakdown.

Proposition No. 1-Educational and Related Capital Improvement Bonds

This ordinance, sponsored by former Assembly member Rob Yundt, would issue general obligation bonds in the amount of $58,146,600.00 to finance public charter schools.

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly (MSB) recognizes the important educational choices provided by public charter schools within the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. In particular, there are three public charter schools are in need of additional financial support to complete improvements, acquisitions, or new school construction-Academy Charter, American Charter, and Birchtree Charter schools.

These public charter schools have strong student enrollments year after year, along with growing waitlists of students interested in attending, and have been in existence for extended periods of time.

It is the intent of the MSB Assembly that all of the public charter schools involved contribute 12.5% of their annual operating budget to participate in paying the debt service attributable to their school regardless of whether they are currently making a lease payment. As enrollment increases for each school the annual operating budget will increase and this will lead to a higher payment to participate in the debt payoff. However, such participation will never exceed the debt payment attributable to that particular school.

Proposition 2 and 3- Consolidation of the Willow Fire Service Area and the Caswell Fire Service Area into a new Willow-Caswell Fire Service Area

The two props are alike, but written for Willow and Caswell residents. The Props are asking voters to consider consolidating the Willow Fire Service Area and the Caswell Fire Service Area into a new Willow-Caswell Fire Service Area. Proposition No. 2 is for residents who reside in the Willow Fire Service Area, while Proposition No. 3 is for residents who reside in the Caswell Fire Service Area.

MSB administration was approached by the Board of Supervisors of the Willow and Caswell fire service areas regarding the creation of a consolidated fire service area into a new Willow Caswell Fire Service Area No. 140, as each existing fire service area board voted unanimously to combine the service areas in order to enhance fire protection services, achieve efficiencies, and obtain additional insurance benefits.

Proposition No. 4-Borough Transportation Systems Projects Bonds

The purpose of this proposition is Borough require the Borough to undertake the Projects, including incidental costs and costs related to issuing and selling the Bonds as provided in this ordinance, is estimated to be $36,390,000.

This prop centers on the arterial and collector roads, determined by the MSB Assembly and the transportation systems of the Borough, including pathways, pedestrian, and school access projects that are in need of construction, additions, improvements, betterments, repair, reconstruction, or acquisition and deems the projects to be public facilities of the Borough's transportation systems under The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Code 1.10.135.

Projects in this prop include Engstrom North Extension to Tex Al, Johnsons Road upgrade, Settlers Bay Drive pavement preservation, Lakeview Road pavement preservation , Green Forest Drive reconstruction, construction of Skeetawk Bus Access Road, King Arthur Drive reconstruction, Burma Road safety improvements, Echo Lake Drive Improvements, and a school site traffic and safety improvements for Shaw Elementary School.

For more information about the propositions, please visit www.matsugov.us/elections