Tax rate lower than last year for Mat-Su

The new tax levy for Borough property owners is lower than last year's.  

Last night, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly adopted a new mill levy of 9.662 after just two nights of deliberations. Right now, the ending fiscal year's mill levy is 9.85. Even with the lower tax rate the new budget includes debt for new school construction projects and a comprehensive list of appropriations for education, infrastructure, new hires, causes, services, flood mitigation, cities, economic development, and recreation.

Education received an additional $1.5 million as brought forward by Deputy Mayor Ron Arvin. Last night Assembly Member Matthew Beck added another $350,000 for the District’s preschool program. “This isn’t a frivolous reach for money, but an attempt to continue a vital service to the community,” Beck wrote in his amendment.  It passed without objection.

Assembly Member Vern Halter freed up some $3 million for the budget when he asked the Assembly to reduce the amount in the budget reserve fund from its $28 million tally. Halter also asked to increase the emergency (disaster) fund to $1.2 million.

Seven paramedic and four fire captain positions were created, so too were four other positions including assessor, land management specialist, a right of way acquisitions officer, and a civil construction project manager. In 2014, alone, the Borough has $138 million in construction projects underway for schools, roads, firehalls, and a library. The Land Management Division has seen a spike in demands for services centered on firewood permits, land acquisitions, school site selections, and more. Fire calls for Emergency Services continue to rise.

Assembly Member Jim Colver negotiated with his peers to appropriate $150,000 toward a commercial kitchen and fire suppression system for the new chalet at Government Peak Recreation Area and $175,000 toward more Nordic trail construction.

For the other side of the mountain called Government Peak, Assembly Member Darcie Salmon brought forward $60,000 for marketing the downhill ski area that hasn’t yet gotten traction. Another $40,000 was added by Deputy Mayor Ron Arvin for jumpstarting sales of Borough property to the private sector to fund infrastructure development in the recreation area.

Motorized recreation drew funding too. Assembly Member Steve Colligan upped Assembly Member Jim Sykes’ appropriation to $251,398 for the Jim Creek Motorized Recreation Area. Colligan also brought forward funds for Eska and Purinton motorized trails.

Colligan also asked his peers to support $50,000 for a planning business license/ permit system.

Salmon asked his peers to send $50,000 to SART, Sexual Assault Response Team, for Mat-Su.

Assembly Member Sykes was successful in seeking funds for land acquisition for a new trailhead at the feet of the Butte hiking trail. Sykes also secured funding for a grant writer and program support to work on applying for matching funds in the federal Flood Mitigation Program for some residents along the destructive Matanuska River.

Assembly Member Vern Halter kept closely connected to his constituents by securing $75,000 for developing a softball park in Meadow Lakes. Halter also directed $75,000 toward Trapper Creek for a community center parking lot upgrade and double vault toilet. Halter also asked his peers for funding for a heat source system for the 30-year-old Willow Community Center. All were adopted.

Deputy Mayor Arvin was successful in getting funding for the access road to Machetanz Elementary School via South Trunk Road by drawing from the school site selection funds.

These are only some of the amendments. Many of them can be viewed on the Borough’s budget web page.

This budget process was called the least painful by former Borough Mayor Salmon. The Assembly has until 5pm today (May 9) to reconsider items. The Mayor has until May 20 to issue vetoes, though he said he was pleased at the lower mill rate and at this point had no vetoes.

For more information email Public Affairs Director Patty Sullivan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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