Chugiak-Eagle River voters get to decide Tuesday whether to authorize peace officers to enforce traffic violations, enact a 3 percent sales and use tax and allow a land exchange that would create public access to Mount Baldy in Eagle River.
In all, local voters will have 13 bond propositions to consider - 14 for residents in the Tablelands Subdivision in Chugiak.
Here is an overview based on the election ballot:
Proposition 1 would approve a $12,880,000 area wide homeland security and public safety capital improvement bond to pay for upgrades including acquiring ambulances, communication systems and related capital improvements. The bond would cost $6.18 for every $100,000 assessed taxable property value annually until the bond retires. Annual operations and maintenance would cost another $2.48 per $100,000.
Proposition 2 would approve a $3.95 million bond to maintain healthy water quality in creeks and streams, improve and maintain parks and trails, provide playground and family recreation areas and enhance and preserve natural areas and open space. The bond would cost $1.49 per $100,000 assessed property value annually to retire and annual operations and maintenance would cost $1.03 per $100,000.
Proposition 3 would approve a long-term, nonexclusive lease of the golf course at Russian Jack Springs Park containing 160 acres of municipal park land with Russian Jack Springs Jr. Golf Association Inc., a non-profit organization that wishes to upgrade and maintain the public golf facilities for youth programs. There is no cost to taxpayers and no increase in property taxes as a result of the lease.
Proposition 4 would dispose of approximately 69 acres of dedicated municipal park land to Park Improvement Project LLC in exchange for all or a substantial portion of Tract A, Soccer and Baseball Subdivision, Plat No. 98-53, containing 38 acres more or less, located adjacent to South Anchorage ball fields. The bond requires no increase in property taxes.
Proposition 5 would allow the Municipality of Anchorage to trade approximately 20 acres of land described as a portion of the northwest corner of Mirror Lake/Edmonds Lake Park to Eklutna Inc. in exchange for an approximate 80-acre parcel of land for a trailhead parking lot, trailhead and trail corridor to Mount Baldy. The bond requires no increase in property taxes. (See Page 1 story for more details.)
Proposition 6 would approve a $2 million bond to help pay a portion of the costs to buy the 4th Avenue Theatre. The bond would cost 65 cents per $100,000 assessed taxable property value annually to retire.
Proposition 7 would approve $44,150,000 in bonds for Anchorage roads, drainage service area road and storm drainage. The bonds would cost $18.39 per $100,000 assessed taxable property value annually to retire. Annual operations and maintenance would cost another $3.78 per $100,000.
Proposition 8 would approve $1,960,000 in bonds to pay the costs of fire protection capital improvements within the Anchorage Fire Service Area. The bonds would cost 88 cents per $100,000 assessed taxable property value annually to retire.
Proposition 9 would approve $20,890,000 in educational capital improvement bonds to pay for upgrades in schools. The bonds would cost $6.77 per $100,000 assessed real personal property value annually to retire. If the state chooses to make full reimbursement on $9,475,000 of the estimated cost, the annual tax increase would be $4.62 per $100,000 assessed real personal property value.
Proposition 10 would approve $30,775,000 in bonds for school planning, design, construction and related capital improvements. The bonds would cost $9.98 per $100,000 assessed real and personal property value annually to retire. Annual operations and maintenance would cost another 58 cents per $100,000.
Proposition 11 would approve $48,200,000 in bonds to pay for the continued renovation of five high schools, including Chugiak High. The bonds would cost $15.62 per $100,000 assessed real and personal property value annually to retire and annual operations and maintenance would cost $1.10 per $100,000.
Proposition 12 would authorize traffic violation enforcement by municipal peace officers.
Proposition 13 would enact a 3 percent sales and use tax on the retail sale or use of tangible goods within the municipality with a tax cap of $200 on individual items. The receipts of the tax, after costs of collection, would be applied equally throughout the municipality to fund essential services in substitution of property taxes.
Proposition 26, which will only be voted on by citizens residing in the Tablelands Subdivision in Chugiak, would create a new service area to operate and maintain existing and future streetlights in the subdivision. The new streetlight service area would be consolidated with the Eagle River streetlight service area. The maximum mill rate in the Eagle River streetlight service area is 0.5 mill. Property owners within the Tablelands Subdivision would incur an increase in their property taxes to pay for the operation and maintenance of the streetlights.
