Mat-Su Valley voters to reaffirm $14-million school bond approval

PALMER - Mat-Su voters will see a familiar sight on this Octobers ballot school construction bonds.

The proposition includes a nearly $11 million school to replace Sherrod Elementary, along with several million in districtwide projects such as technology, carpet replacement and fire sprinklers. Valley taxpayers would pick up 30 percent of the costs, with the state reimbursing 70 percent.

If voters feel a sense of dej vu when they see the ballots, it is not their imaginations. More than 75 percent of local voters already endorsed the projects in 1998, but because of new legislation, voters are being asked to reaffirm their earlier approval.

Funding for these four final projects was delayed until this spring. In the meantime, the Alaska Legislature passed a new law that requires the Department of Education to approve projects before they go on the ballot. Now that DOE has given its blessing, it is up to Mat-Su voters.

We need to vote on it now, said Kim Floyd, public information specialist for the district. She said if the 10-mill property-tax cap passes before Mat-Su approves the bonds, the projects would have to fit under the cap. At the same time, the state may not offer 70-percent reimbursement forever.

We dont want to foot the whole bill, Floyd said.

The main item on the bond proposition is a $10.96-million replacement school for the aging Sherrod Elementary in Palmer. A site-selection committee is in the process of choosing a location for the new school, but the final decision will be left to the Mat-Su Borough Assembly and school board.

The old school, adjacent to Swanson Elementary, would be converted into a central administration building. The district currently leases space around the Valley for administrative offices, and district officials say a central building will reduce lease costs by more than $150,000 per year. In addition, a central office would be more accessible to the public.

The other items included in the proposition are as follows:

Districtwide technology, totaling nearly $1.5 million. All schools will benefit from the project with upgrades and improved infrastructure. More remote schools, such as Su Valley and Glacier View, will particularly benefit.

$1.3 million in fire sprinklers and piping at Su Valley and Palmer high schools. These are described as needed safety upgrades that will help protect staff and students. In addition, the improvements may reduce the districts property insurance premium.

$376,000 in new carpet at Iditarod, Snowshoe, Butte, Tanaina, Cottonwood Creek and Pioneer Peak elementary schools.

While the bond proposition will mean a slight tax increase $13 per year on a $100,000 home Floyd points out that even with adding this to existing bonds, Mat-Su taxpayers will still pay less than what was originally expected when voters approved the $85 million worth of bonds in 1998.

These arent additions, Floyd said of the four projects. These were included in the original bond proposal.