Reapportionment and road bonds among Assembly

MAT-SU Aug. 3—Discussing weighty issues for eight hours, the Assembly adjourned at two minutes to midnight after working through subjects such as road bonds, road powers, Assembly reapportionment, a proposed new election process for School Boardmembers, land for Academy Charter School, land for a new Caswell Lakes fire hall, and the creation of a wastewater advisory board.

A vote on a School bond ballot proposition was postponed until Aug. 9.

The vote on changing the way School Boardmembers are elected failed.

Assembly District Reapportionment

After each federal census and adoption of a State redistricting plan, the Assembly is required to propose to voters a plan of apportionment for assembly districts.

The 2010 Census reflects how the MAT-SU has grown 50 percent in the last decade. Parts of the Borough have grown faster than others. Among the fastest, the Knik Fairview area grew by more than 100 percent. Its 2010 population of 14,923 is greater than our two largest cities of Palmer and Wasilla combined. The eastern side of the MAT-SU grew too with the Butte gaining 685 new residents and Sutton 367.

Last night the Assembly approved putting before voters new Assembly district boundaries to reflect the shifts in population. Voters are also asked to vote on the composition of representation by seven members and the form of representation by districts.

The proposed new boundaries for the seven Assembly districts is not a drastic change, according to Borough Clerk Lonnie McKechnie. District 1 basically needed to grow and move south to gain population and that nudged District 2 a little west, McKechnie said. On the other side of the MAT-SU, the growth in the Knik area required the boundaries of district five to shrink. As a result, District 3 and 4 stretched west into District 5, she said. District 6 shrank some, and District 7 stayed relatively the same.

McKechnie worked on the proposed new districts for the Assembly with Project Coordinator Pam Graham and GIS Supervisor Susan Howard. The proposed new districts will be on the ballot in the Oct. 4 election.

At more than 25,000 square miles the Borough encompasses tremendous geography and is nearly the size of Scotland.

Road Bonds on Oct. 4 ballot seek 50 percent match from State

The Assembly adopted a $25 million road bond proposition to put before voters. The full road bond package is $50 million. If the proposition is adopted, the Borough will ask the State to match the local contribution by paying half of it as other municipalities have done. The bonds will not be issued unless matching funds are received from the State.

The bonds will build the key elements of the Borough’s transportation system to serve the needs of our growing community, the ordinance states.

In 2007 the Borough’s Long Range Transportation Plan identified $1.6 billion in needed road improvements to prevent congestion and unsafe conditions, the ordinance states.

The estimated cost to taxpayers per $100,000 of assessed value is $28.89 or $60.34 per year for the average home of $208,887. Every Assembly district has at least one project. However the list could change. Assembly Member Jim Colver filed a motion to reconsider the vote with the Clerk’s office today.

Several amendments were made as Assembly Members reduced the Borough’s portion of the project costs from $32 million. Assembly Member Warren Keogh of District 1 removed $1.3 million in projects from his district to encourage his peers to reduce the bond amount. Keogh said several of his district’s projects are under state jurisdiction and a bridge project was already slated to receive funding. Assembly Members Mark Ewing and Cindy Bettine followed suit by reducing projects in their districts by $3.3 million total. The Assembly reached the $25 million match amount, based upon recommendations from state legislators. 

For more information on reapportionment call Borough Clerk Lonnie McKechnie 745-9684. For more information on road bonds call Transportation Division Manager Brad Sworts at 746-7430 or call Public Affairs Director Patty Sullivan at 355-0103.

Proposed Assembly district maps will be posted here soon.