Borough budget process moves forward amidst COVID-19 mandates

Over the next week, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly will undertake its annual budget process.

While public gatherings are still limited due to COVID-19, the Mat-Su Borough is holding public hearings for the budget proposal.  Teleconference lines are being made available for public testimony, and the meetings will be streamed both from the borough website and Big Cabbage Radio in Palmer.

As with last year, one major item before the borough assembly is Governor Mike Dunleavy’s veto of school bond debt reimbursement funds from the state.  Under the original arrangement, the state paid the borough back seventy percent of debt service for school construction.  Beginning a few years ago, that program was scaled back.  This year, it has been vetoed entirely.

At the borough’s Wednesday press conference for COVID-19 issues, Mayor Vern Halter stated that the Mat-Su has received around $38 million in federal CARES Act funding.  He says he hopes that money will help offset the cost to property tax payers.  Mayor Halter also says he wants the assembly to try to find a way to offer other property tax reductions in a time when many in the borough are facing additional financial strain.

The borough’s public budget hearings are scheduled for April 23^rd, 28^th, and 30^th.