The Municipality of Anchorage and the Anchorage School District are asking voters to approve $102 million in bonds during the April 1 municipal election. If approved, the seven ballot propositions will pay for library improvements, roads, a new roof for the Sullivan Arena and major renovations to some of the oldest schools in town.
Based on the average sale price of a home in Anchorage for 2006 of $316,000, homeowners would see an increase to their property tax bill of $70.96 annually if voters approve all the bonds.
Supporters of the bonds claim the time is ideal for approval, due to the paying off of previous debt and reimbursements available from the state.
According to Todd Jacobson, chairman of Anchorage Tomorrow, a nonprofit group who organized to promote growth for the future of the Municipality of Anchorage and a supporter of the bond propositions, Anchorage can afford the bonds because the city's steadily growing population and tax base and expanding economy reduces the per taxpayer cost of the bonds.
“The Municipality will pay off almost $27 million worth of bonds in 2008,” he said. “Anchorage tax burdens are low compared to most U.S. cities, and the average household tax burden is less than half of the national average for top U.S. cities. Anchorage could increase its total debt load four times and still keep its outstanding AA bond rating”
As for the school bonds, propositions No. 2 and No. 3, the school district says there will be no increase in net bond indebtedness for schools, because more than $44 million in school bonds have been retired this year.
“These bonds are just good stewardship, of both the buildings and financially,” said KittŽ Miller, chairman of School Bond Yes!, a parent-driven organization supporting the bonds. “The total amount of the bonds is equal to the debt that the district has retired since last April, so there is no net change involved.
Miller also pointed out that 62 percent of the total for the school bonds will be reimbursed by the State of Alaska.
Proposition No. 1 Ñ $6.9 million for major roof repairs and capital improvements.
This bond will provide for major roof repairs to the Sullivan Arena, Anchorage Museum and the Loussac Library. It will also cover the cost of needed maintenance and improvements at several branch libraries, including the Chugiak-Eagle River library.
According to Jacobson, $4 million will be used to replace the aging roofs at the Sullivan Arena and the Anchorage Museum.
“They're more than 25 years old,” he said. “And in much need of replacement.”
The remaining funds from the bond will pay for roof repairs at the Loussac Library, improvements at the Samson-Dimond library and help fund the building of the Mountain View library and the expansion of the Chugiak-Eagle River library.
Retirement of the bond will cost the average homeowner an estimated $7.69 annually.
Proposition No. 2 Ñ $34.3 million for the renewal of Chester Valley and Sand Lake elementary schools and the design plans for a new Girdwood K-8 School.
According to Miller, the elementary schools to be updated are the oldest among the 98 Anchorage School District schools.
Chester Valley Elementary was built in 1964 and has received few building upgrades since.
Sand Lake Elementary was built in 1958, before statehood. The school has had classroom additions, but few building upgrades. Currently, the school is 127 students above capacity, with a student body of 655 students. Sand Lake is the largest ASD elementary school in the district.
“Although the buildings are well-maintained, their building systems are worn out,” Miller said.
The bond qualifies for 60 percent debt reimbursement from the state Department of Education and Early Development. If the state chooses to make full reimbursement, the annual increase in taxes would be $10.62 annually for the average homeowner to retire the bond.
Proposition No. 3 Ñ $9.41 million for capital improvements and major building system renewals in the Anchorage School District.
The proposed educational capital improvement projects include roof replacement and repair, sprinkler system upgrades, electrical and mechanical systems modifications, traffic safety projects and track renewal at elementary and middle schools throughout the district.
Local schools will benefit from projects funded by the bond, especially Gruening Middle School. The proposition calls for funding to reconstruct the shingled portion of the school's roof ($200,000), replace the gym divider curtain ($80,000), replace the intercom/bell/clock system ($200,000) and rebuild the school's track ($750,000).
“The roofing at Gruening is a good example,” Anchorage School Board member and Eagle River Resident John Steiner said. “In the past, we've had several roof problems go unchecked, resulting in leaks and other damage to the internal part of the building.”
In addition to the Gruening projects, Mirror Lake Middle School would receive an upgrade to the emergency communication system for emergency services officials ($160,000). Alpenglow Elementary School would get a new intercom/bell/clock system ($150,000) and a new fire alarm system ($175,000).
Eagle River Elementary School would receive a $600,000 water pipe replacement, and Birchwood Elementary School would get a new intercom/bell/clock system ($150,000) if the proposition is approved.
The bond qualifies for 70 percent debt reimbursement from the state Department of Education and Early Development. If the state chooses to make full reimbursement, the annual increase in taxes would be $2.19 annually for the average homeowner to retire the bond.
Proposition No. 4 Ñ $2 million in parks and recreation bonds to fund improvements to local pools.
This bond is dependant on a match from the State of Alaska to pay for repairs to pools at area high schools, totaling $4 million. The bond will only be issued equal to the amount of matching funds provided by the state.
The improvements proposed under the bond include building repairs and water filter updates at the Dimond Pool, roof and pool liner replacement at the Service Pool, roof replacement and mechanical repairs at the Bartlett Pool and a structural study at the West Pool.
This bond must be approved by voters in the Chugiak-Eagle River area, but the repayment of the bond will be made without cost to local residents.
Proposition No. 5 Ñ $44.8 million in road and drainage upgrades for Anchorage.
The bond will pay for 43 different street and road improvement projects located within the Anchorage Roads and Drainage Service Area, including lighting and safety improvements in downtown along the E Street Corridor, upgrades to Dowling Road and Little Campbell Creek drainage improvements west of Lake Otis Parkway.
According to Jacobson, the bond money will be combined with a matching grant from the state as part of a $90 million road upgrade project this year.
“This bond will complete some big pieces to the traffic puzzle in Anchorage,” he said.
It will cost the average homeowner $44.10 annually to repay the debt incurred by this bond.
Proposition No. 6 Ñ $1.688 million in public safety and transportation bonds.
Funds from the bond will be used for the acquisition of mobile intensive care units, computers for ambulances, public transportation vehicles and transportation facility improvements.
$1.038 million will be used for the acquisition of new ambulances for the Anchorage Fire Department as part of the ambulance replacement program.
“The city will be able to purchase three new ambulances with this bond,” Jacobson said. “Plus, it is only a 10-year bond, so we're not paying for rolling stock after it has been rotated out the fleet.”
The remainder of the bond will be used to receive a four-to-one match from federal highway and transportation grants to replace aging transit vehicles.
Retirement of the bond will cost the average homeowner an estimated $1.32 annually.
Proposition No. 7 Ñ $3.622 million in fire service protection bonds.
This bond will pay for the replacement of the AFD fire training center and the emergency vehicle maintenance shop in Anchorage.
It will also be used to purchase a new air resource system to fill tanks used by firefighters.
The largest portion of the bond, $2.322 million, will pay for the new air resource system. The remainder, $1.3 million, goes toward the training facility.
The average Anchorage homeowner will see an increase of $2.97 annually to their property tax bill to repay this bond.
Reach the reporter at darrell.breese@alaskastar.com.
