Palin to close Mat-Su office

Frontiersman

WASILLA — Gov. Sarah Palin’s regional Mat-Su Valley office will close at the end of the month as part of a statewide cost-saving effort.

The Wasilla office, located in the Westside Center on the Parks Highway, will close effective Nov. 30, the governor’s office announced Tuesday. It was opened during former Governor Murkowski’s administration, but since has not been used enough to justify its remaining open. Visitors to the Wasilla office generally have been limited to about one or two a day, and “rarely exceeded 10 or 12 over the course of the average week,” the announcement of the closure says.

The two staff members from the Wasilla office will be integrated into the governor’s Anchorage office, said Sharon Leighow, deputy press secretary for the governor.

Although the Mat-Su office doesn’t pay rent and has a minimal supply expense of $579 a year, the state will see savings of $66,740 in salary and benefits for not replacing an open position in its Anchorage office, Leighow said. Also, the move allows state employees and resources to be used more efficiently, which also saves time and money.

Because the Mat-Su facility is minimally used and those living in the Mat-Su Valley have reasonable access to Anchorage, “the closure of the Wasilla office is the only reasonable action,” the announcement says.

“While I recognize the value of maintaining a presence in the state’s fastest-growing community, keeping that office open is not a wise use of state money,” Palin says in the closure announcement. “We will keep the local phone number and my staff in Anchorage, which includes Mat-Su residents, will be on hand to answer questions and help constituents with their concerns.”

Palin also says the consolidation of the Mat-Su and Anchorage offices will increase efficiency and help staff respond to inquiries and questions more efficiently.

Following the closure of the local office, Valley residents will still be able to call the governor’s office on the existing local phone number, 352-2585, which will remain a local call.