School bonds: back on ballot?

April 25 special election proposed

January 22, 2006

DARRELL L. BREESE\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - A Mat-Su Borough Assembly member's attempt to add a second public hearing for a proposed April 25 special election on $39.7 million worth of school bonds ended in confusion at the assembly's Tuesday meeting.

&#8220I just had a simple request that turned into an epic debate of technicalities and the law,” assembly member Jim Colver said after the meeting.

During the introduction of an ordinance that would the special election for public hearing, the borough attorney, clerk and mayor were uncertain how they should proceed.

Borough Clerk Michelle McGehee was concerned that an additional public hearing would not allow the ordinance for the special election to be approved in the 75 days prior to the date of the election, as required by state law. But it was determined that the assembly can approve the April 25 date for the special election at the next meeting on Feb. 7. And then approve the bond total before Feb. 24 and still conform with state and borough laws.

Another item discussed during the meeting was changing the total of the bond package from $39.7 million to $40.5 million, the maximum authorized by the state Legislature for the borough to request in educational bonds this year.

&#8220I don't see any problem in asking for the maximum bond amount,” Borough Mayor Tim Anderson said. &#8220Then we can determine where the extra money can be used.”

The increased bond total, if approved, is an $800,000 increase from the amount the school board requested in October to construct two new elementary schools (at $17 million each) and complete repairs and renovations to Wasilla Middle and High School.

Colver said he wasn't sure if the increase could be justified.

&#8220I have some reservations about increasing the bond total any more,” Colver said. &#8220What I'm hearing from my constituents is some concern about the $4 million increase in the construction cost of the elementary schools since the October election.”

Voters in October rejected proposed bond issues for the elementary schools. The bond package for the Settlers Bay School was for $12.7 million. The South Palmer elementary school was part of a $27.8-million package and was estimated to cost $13.9 million.

Colver hopes to provide answers to the questions and concerns he is hearing from borough residents about the increase in the bond request for each school during the Feb. 7 public hearing and a future public hearing to be set during that meeting.

&#8220I just want to give ample opportunity for the people to ask questions and fully understand the increase before we move forward and ask them to vote,” Colver said.

&#8220I have questions and I imagine that the residents do as well.”

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or darrell.breese@

frontiersman.com.