Borough Assembly to consider additional budget amendments, tonight

The Mat-Su Borough Assembly is meeting now to consider amendments to the Fiscal Year 2022 budget, which will take effect on July 1^st.

The Assemby previously met on Tuesday to consider amendments and delayed some votes until tonight, including proposed cuts to library operations and travel funds for some borough departments.

In addition to those, new amendments (PDF link) have come forward for tonight’s meeting.  Assembly Member George McKee has proposed multiple budget reductions for the borough’s emergency services department.  They include removing funds for three command vehicles for EMS, a water rescue truck, a quarter-million dollars for modernization of rescue equipement, and about a million dollars that would pay for nine full-time firefighter positions in the Mat-Su Central Fire Service Area.  Fire service areas pay a separate tax within their boundaries, and are not calculated as part of the areawide or non-areawide mill rate.  McKee is also proposing a reduced increase in funding for Emergency Services administration, amounting to about $100,000.

Assembly Member Mokie Tew is also proposing changes, including the elimination of overtime pay for borough road service administration and a utility worker position in the Department of Public Works.  Tew is also proposing one new addition to the budget, a grant for $150,000 to the MyHouse charity, which is seeking to build a new facility to help at-risk youth.

Including the carryover from Tuesday night’s meeting, the assembly will consider a total of fifteen budget amendments, tonight.