School bonds dividing voters

April 9, 2006

JOEL DAVIDSON

Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU - With less than three weeks before a special election, forces are mobilizing as Mat-Su residents prepare to once again vote on new school construction projects.

Less than six months ago, voters rejected two school bonds totaling $40 million for three new elementary schools. On April 25, Valley residents will again vote on a similar proposal. This time, a special election will determine the fate of one $39.7 million bond for the construction of two new elementary schools and renovations to Wasilla High and Wasilla Middle schools. The state has agreed to reimburse the Mat-Su Borough 70 percent for a school on Knik Goose-Bay Road, along with the middle school and high school renovation projects. At least 60 percent will be reimbursed for a new Palmer elementary school.

Advocates for the measure say the state's reimbursement offer, which ends in October, is an opportunity the borough can't afford to miss, especially since student numbers are rapidly increasing. In addition, bond proponents say the proposal has a better chance of passing now that it's framed within a special election with no other issues to muddy the waters. When school bonds failed in October, many bond advocates said voters were overwhelmed with so many other issues, including bonds for libraries, an animal shelter, and the general candidate elections.

Patty Coan, campaign chairperson for pro-bond &#8220Schools Yes” campaign, said she remains optimistic about the coming vote despite the fact that Anchorage voters turned down three school bonds Tuesday. Coan said different dynamics favor a bond passage in the Valley.

&#8220It's depressing when you saw the results in Anchorage,” she said. &#8220We're afraid that may have some impact on our bonds, but the critical difference is that, in Anchorage, they did what we did in the fall, which is bundle too much together in one election. By holding a special election, we want people focused on one issue and one issue only.”

Opponents, however, see the special election as an underhanded way for bond advocates to usurp the public's will by mobilizing special interest groups to vote during an election they say probably won't draw as large as turnout as in October.

Penny Nixon, founder of the Mat-Su Taxpayers Association, said Mat-Su voters already turned down school bonds in the general October election. To turn around and spend $86,000 for a special election is a political move he said is an attempt to override the will of the general public.

&#8220It is clear that this is a special-interest move,” he said. &#8220It was a political decision. I don't think the public is any more interested than they were before.”

Co-founder of the Mat-Su Taxpayers Association Dennis Oakland said he thinks taxpayers are still unwilling to shoulder more school bond debt in the wake of rising property taxes. Oakland also argued that existing schools should make better use of their current space by changing school boundary lines so facilities with extra room can take in more students and thereby alleviate crowding in packed schools.

School Information Specialist Kim Floyd said people need to look at the long-term picture of growth in the Valley, which entails students moving into the school district fast enough to fill more than a new school every year. An additional 579 students are expected in Valley schools next year.

&#8220All of the core-area elementary schools are at or over capacity,” Floyd explained. &#8220As we continue to see subdivisions developed, we are going to see more families come in with school-age children.”

Coan said her group plans to go door-to-door and give public talks to spread the word about the need for more schools. On Tuesday, she spoke to the Valley Board of Realtors.

Coan is also branch manager for Prudential Jack White Vista, a Mat-Su real estate company. For the Valley to continue to attract people, Coan said, new school construction has to keep up with the population boom.

&#8220In order to sell homes, one of the things people look at is for a strong school system,” she said. &#8220We need the infrastructure to attract people to our community.”

Whether voters are ready to shoulder the tax burden this time around, remains to be seen. Oakland said he and Nixon also are planning to encourage voters to come out to vote against the bonds.

&#8220We were going to wait another week or so, then we'll probably put a flyer in the paper,” he said. &#8220We haven't made a final decision yet - we still have some time.”

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266 or joel.davidson@ frontiersman.com.