Ski resort plan will raise taxes

A bill for $38 million will be submitted to the property taxpayers if the Mat-Su Borough Assembly makes decisions without the vote of the people on the ordinance serial no. 08-033, Hatcher Pass Special Land Use District.

The Assembly has $6 million to fund the Hatcher Pass ski resort that has a $44 million price tag; therefore, the remaining balance of $38 million will be passed on to Mat-Su Borough taxpayers. This proposed dollar amount to fund the Hatcher Pass ski resort doesn’t include cost overrun.

Thank goodness that the ordinance did not pass at last Tuesday’s meeting on March 4; however, it will be up for vote again on March 18. We need the people in the Mat-Su Borough to contact all assembly members and state that this bill should be up to the taxpayers to decide on this Hatcher Pass ski resort and not the assembly members.

We, as Borough residents, will be paying on the Hatcher Pass Special Land Use District for 30-plus years. The Assembly members will tell you that a developer will have to repay this funding; however, the money will go to the Mat-Su Borough and not back to the individual property taxpayers.

Esther Huddleston

Palmer