Letter to the editor: Red flag alert

Vote “No” on the Borough’s, “Advisory Vote on Police Powers.“ The Mat-Su Borough does not need our permission to study police powers - Red Flag Alert. The Borough has been studying Police Powers in the Valley for years without our permission. What has changed? - Red Flag Alert. There is no fiscal note attached to the advisory vote - Red Flag Alert. The advisory vote states, “still allow the Cities to maintain their own police departments.” Cities do not have to ask permission to have their own police departments - Red Flag Alert. Original version of ballot vote estimated to provide police powers would cost 3 to 3.5 mills ($300 to $350 for each $100,00 of assessed property value), this was taken out of the new advisory language - Red Flag Alert. Why are the Cities being asked to vote? The Cities are already paying or have the option to pay for their own police service. Why would they pay twice? Sounds like a plastic bag tax that died on the Borough level after the Cities did their own plastic bag ban, thus reducing revenues to the Borough from $2.1 million to about $300,000 - Red Flag Alert. If the Borough wants to research Police Powers they should just do it, they do not need our permission - Red Flag Alert. Vote “No.”

Mayor Bert Cottle

Wasilla