Vote yes on school bonds

To the editor:

I will be a yes vote for Proposition 3 in this upcoming Oct. 4 borough-wide election. With much due diligence, the Mat-Su Borough School District has crafted a fiscally responsible five-year plan to bond for badly needed future schools and infrastructure improvements that deserves to be approved by voters in the Mat-Su.

Here are some reasons for a yes vote on the Proposition 3 school bond:

• This is a just-in-time bond to address the need for schools to be built over a five-year period accommodating a growing student population, reduce the use of inefficient portables (76 in the district now), solve some badly needed maintenance problems in run-down schools (leaking roofs, life and safety issues, etc.) and increase energy efficiency while decreasing overall operating costs.

• Schools are and should be the centers of our communities. The bond includes something for all neighborhood schools as well as charter schools. These are well outlined on the district website, which I encourage all voters to see at matsuk12.us/matsu/site/default.as.

• The state reimburses 70 percent of the cost of the projects contained in the bond, making taxpayers only responsible for 30 percent. This is a great deal for taxpayers and uncommon in other states.

• Increases in mill rate will only occur as bonds are issued making this five-year bond plan much more affordable for the taxpayer. The district will not come back to the voters for five years for further bonding.

• One dollar spent on these projects will return as much as $10 in revenue enriching communities and providing jobs. In addition, the likelihood of being able to host major school sports events will result in added revenue to communities and business.

• The district is performing well and responsibly as stewards of the taxpayer’s money under the leadership of the past superintendent Dr. Burnley, Ken Forrest and staff, and now is in the capable hands of Dr. Paramo.

The district is presently busing more than 900 students from the Knik area to Wasilla daily. The borough and district are in the process of selecting a site for a new Knik-Goose Bay middle/high school to relieve the overcrowding and possible future double shifting of students at Wasilla High and Middle Schools. This bond needs to pass to build those badly needed schools.

This is the right time and the right plan to invest in our kids, infrastructure and create jobs in the Valley. We cannot deny the statistics that show we are now the second largest school district in the state and are adding 400 students yearly to the enrollment. Sitting on our hands while this opportunity to invest in our community’s passes will only make it more expensive down the road and will allow other districts to take advantage of the state’s generous financial support while our Mat Su students tromp through the snow for a day in a portable that does nothing to enhance education or our own communities.

Please vote yes Oct. 4 on Proposition 3.

Terry Snyder

Palmer