Willow residents turn out to talk numbers

WILLOW — A large crowd turned out to the Willow Community Center for cookies, dinner, and lots of conversation about the borough budget on Thursday.

Of about 20 people who got up to speak, the majority were concerned about school funding projections, which show a potential $12 million operating deficit based on unanticipated insurance rate increases.

Numerous commenters were Mat-Su borough school system employees, who asked the schools be given a 6 percent increase in the borough contribution over last year, with no restrictions on rolling money forward to the next school year. An additional increase on that magnitude would cost borough taxpayers $1.6 million, according to figures provided by finance director Tammy Clayton.

For example, assistant Big Lake Elementary School principal John Gardner said Big Lake Elementary, where he works, faced tough cuts.

“Due to the district’s budgetary situation and the revenue for this year, almost all Mat-Su Schools have faced an expected reduction in staffing at some level,” he said. “At our building, we’re planning for a reduction of one classroom position, and then also a reduction of a half-time retired teacher we were able to hire back.”

Reductions in salary and staff forced teachers to moonlight or work multiple jobs to get by, or support personnel to step up and fill in the gaps, said Lisa Humphreys a receptionist at Houston High School. Humphreys is also a small business owner, and volunteer for various activities, including the Houston High School Guns and Outdoors show.

“When you cut our budget, you are asking people like me, a simple secretary, to do additional jobs on top of what we’re already trying to do with our kids,” she said.

After concerns about the schools budget, the second-most common issue requests for the borough budget to include money for construction of the Willow library. William Mailer, a representative from the Willow Library Association, asked members of the audience who supported the new library to stand, at which point, nearly the entire audience of about 50 people rose to their feet.

Residents were asking for $636,000 originally included in the capital budget to be restored, Mailer said.

“I want to stress the involvement of the community and the importance of a strong vibrant library to the health of the community,” he said.

Assembly members were mostly noncommittal in response. However, District 5 assemblyman Dan Mayfield, suggested it may be possible for the assembly to address the issues without raising taxes.

“There is a way forward without increasing the mill rate and without increasing our capital debt,” he said. “It’s in the book. I will need the support of the other assembly members in order to do that, but there is a way forward.”

Contact reporter Brian O’Connor at 352-2270, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.