This April, Anchorage voters will decide on eight bonds totaling up to $124 million and two new municipal tax levy proposals, in addition to electing six Assembly members and two school board members.
The city proposes bonds each year in order to pay for projects and improvements beyond what it can include in its annual budget.
The seven proposed municipal bonds total up to $60.25 million and would go to major road and safety projects, improvements and repairs in municipal buildings, libraries, city parks and other projects. This year, the school district has proposed a bond of up to $63.8 million to pay for improvements at several schools, along with other projects.
Property taxes largely fund the city’s annual budget. Any voter-approved bonds are repaid over time, plus interest, by property taxes that the city collects on top of the property taxes that fund the budget. Sometimes bonds include small increases to the municipal tax cap, such as when continual maintenance and operations is required for specific projects.
If voters approve all seven municipal bonds on this year’s ballot, the estimated maximum increase per $100,000 in assessed property value is $12.92 for bond debt service and a $1.54 increase to the municipal tax cap, according to the mayor’s office. That’s about $57.80 for an owner of a $400,000 home in the Anchorage Bowl. The school district’s bond would cost the same homeowner an additional $51.60.
The city also pays off debt each year as it retires old bonds. In 2025, the city is expecting to pay off $38.32 million in principal. That offsets some of the net tax impact of newly approved bonds and the tax burden on property owners.
The school district expects to pay off about $33.12 million each year over the next five years.
Voter-approved bonds aren’t generally issued right away, so it usually takes one to two years before taxpayers see an impact to their bill.
Voters will decide another bond, Proposition 8, a $3 million proposal that would pay for safety improvements on Timberline Road in Girdwood. Only Girdwood properties would pay the cost of the bond.
This year, the city is also proposing two small annual taxes dedicated to replacing its aging vehicle fleet, including snowplows and police cars. The city would collect about $6.5 million annually in new taxes.
Combined, the levies would cost about $18.76 per $100,000 in assessed value.
Ballots were mailed last week, and April 1 is the final day for voters to return them.
[Anchorage election guide: Q&As with candidates for Assembly and school board]
Prop 1: Anchorage School District capital improvements – $63.8 million
The Anchorage School District’s $63.8 million bond would cost property taxpayers about $12.90 per $100,000 of assessed value.
The bond includes more than $11 million for security and safety upgrades at 40 schools and two administrative buildings.
Major renovations include $14 million in facility upgrades at Spring Hill Elementary, $11.48 million in upgrades at Campbell Elementary and $9.36 million for Bartlett High School infrastructure improvements and design. About $9.5 million would go to fix and replace aging infrastructure at West High School.
Another $3.8 million would purchase new heavy equipment used for snow removal and parking lot maintenance at schools.
Prop 2: Anchorage roads and storm drainage bond – $33.7 million
This $33.7 million bond would pay for a list of more than 30 projects to upgrade, rehabilitate and improve roads, sidewalks, street lights and storm water drainage around the city. It would cost property taxpayers in the road service area an estimated $7.86 per $100,000 in assessed value annually, plus a 46-cent increase to the tax cap to pay for ongoing maintenance and operations. There is no cost to properties in Chugiak, Eagle River, Girdwood and other properties outside Anchorage’s roads and drainage service area.
Among the many projects, the list includes:
• $7.1 million for upgrades to Quinhagak Street from East Dowling Road to Askeland Drive;
• $4.5 million for a new snow disposal site in West Anchorage;
• $3.4 million for storm drain improvements in the area of 64th Avenue and Meadow Street;
• $2.8 million for road reconstruction in the area of East 74th Avenue, Nancy Street, and East 75th Avenue; and
• $1.5 million for lighting and signals upgrades in downtown.
Prop 3: Parks and recreation capital improvements – $8.2 million
Anchorage is asking voters to approve an $8.25 million bond for renovations and improvements to 17 different parks, trails and recreation facilities around the city.
It would cost property tax payers about $1.73 per $100,000 in assessed value annually to retire the bond, plus an increase of 71 cents to the tax cap. There is no cost to properties outside of the parks and rec service area, so those in Chugiak, Eagle River and Girdwood would not be taxed.
About $2.9 million is earmarked for a project to renovate Town Square Park, with a goal of reducing persistent public safety issues in the area.
Other items include:
• $1.3 million for a project to connect Fish Creek Trail to the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail;
• $500,000 for Centennial Campground improvements;
• $400,000 to improve Goose Lake Park; and
• $400,000 for a chalet in Cuddy Family Midtown Park.
Prop 4: Police area bond – $3.4 million
This $3.4 million bond would go to several facility upgrades at Anchorage Police Department buildings. Property tax payers in the metropolitan police service area would see a cost of about 62 cents per $100,000 in assessed value. Taxpayers with properties in areas south of McHugh Creek, including Girdwood, Indian and Portage, would not be impacted.
Projects include upgrading the generator at the department’s headquarters; renovations to the heating system and gate replacement at the department’s Elmore Station; and ADA access upgrades at the department’s Jewel Lake Training Center.
Prop 5: Public safety capital improvements – $9.4 million
The $9.4 million bond encapsulates several public safety improvement projects and would cost property tax payers about $2.05 per $100,000 in assessed value annually, which includes an increase to the tax cap of 37 cents.
The bond would pay to replace fire alarm system panels at major municipal facilities and other safety code upgrades, replace fire department ambulances, make improvements to school zones and pay for traffic calming measures.
Prop 6: Senior center and libraries capital improvements – $2.8 million
This $2.8 million bond would pay for window replacements and repairs at the Loussac Library, carpet replacement at the Chugiak-Eagle River Library and renovations at the Anchorage Senior Activity Center.
Property tax payers would see a cost of about 50 cents per $100,000 in assessed value until the bond debt is paid.
Prop 7: Fire service bond – $2.4 million
About $2.4 million would go to paying for replacement fire engine trucks and fire water tenders for the Anchorage Fire Department.
Property tax payers in the Anchorage Fire Service Area would see a cost of about 46 cents per $100,000 in assessed value. Properties in Chugiak and Girdwood would not be taxed.
Prop 9: Chugach State Park Access bond -$300,000
The $300,000 bond would pay for a design study in the first phase of a project to create a new overflow parking lot on city land connected to Chugach State Park’s Basher Trailhead on Campbell Airstrip Road in East Anchorage.
It would cost property tax payers in the Anchorage Bowl about 6 cents per $100,000 in assessed value. Those outside of the Chugach State Park Access Service Area would not be impacted.
Prop 10: Snow response and fleet vehicle tax levy – $3.5 million
Anchorage officials have sounded alarm bells about the deteriorating condition of city vehicles and equipment, warning that the fleet is at risk of “imminent collapse.” The city is proposing two tax levies as a way to a create dedicated funding for replacing vehicles each year.
The $3.5 million annual tax would pay for replacing the heavy vehicle fleet, including graders, dump trucks, sanders, loaders, blowers and trackless machines. The tax could pay for purchasing about seven vehicles a year.
The increase in property taxes would be up to $11.21 per $100,000 in assessed value.
Prop 11: Police vehicle tax levy – $3 million
The second levy of $3 million would pay for replacing about 40 police vehicles per year. The increase in taxes would apply to property owners in the metropolitan police service area and would cost no more than $7.55 per $100,000.
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