Borough Assembly to hold public budget meetings

The Mat-Su Borough Assembly will be on the road for public hearings on the next fiscal year’s budget this week.

This year’s budget proposal includes an increase in property taxes, but a cut to the borough services budget.  That is due to the anticipated elimination of school bond debt reimbursement from the State of Alaska.  According to Borough Manager John Moosey, that cut will cost the borough about nineteen million dollars in the next fiscal year.

As proposed, the budget would increase areawide property taxes from 10.3 mills to 11.5 mills.  The areawide budget would also be cut by about $11.3 million.  That represents a cut of about seven percent to the areawide budget.

In this year’s budget proposal, school funding will be tied to a fixed mill rate.  The Assembly made the decision last year to fund the Mat-Su Borough School District at 6.3 mills.  The school district had requested this funding method, since it is more predictable than yearly appropriations.

There are three special public hearings on the Assembly schedule.  Tonight, there is a special meeting at the Menard Sports Complex in Wasilla.  Tomorrow, there is a hearing scheduled at the Assembly chambers in Palmer.  On Thursday, there will be a budget hearing at the Willow Community Center.  All three meetings begin at 6:00 pm.  Food will be served at the Willow meeting beginning at 5:00 pm.