New roads, improvements on Oct. ballot

PALMER–On Oct. 7, MAT-SU voters will decide whether to invest in local roads.
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly recently approved putting a $15 million bond package on the October ballot to help pay for seven road projects.

The $15 million is only part of the cost. The Assembly is asking the State Legislature to supplement local dollars with a 70 percent match. For every $100 spent, the State would pay $70 and the Borough would pay $30. The overall cost is $49 million.

"Our Assembly has made the sale of the bonds contingent upon a match from the state," said Borough Manager John Duffy.

No local dollars would be spent unless the state agrees to the match. A table of the projects is attached.

This is the first time the Borough has put road bonds on a ballot.

In passing the ordinance on road bonds, the Assembly found:
"Whereas, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough's 2007 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) identified $1.2 billion of needed road improvements between 2007 and 2025; and ...
"Whereas, continued population growth has created a substantial and immediate need for road improvements throughout the borough; and
"Whereas, the transportation improvements identified in the LRTP must be programmed and funded for construction as early as possible in order to prevent congestion and unsafe conditions; and
"Whereas, a combination of not only federal and state funding but also local funding is necessary to accomplish the needed road improvements; and
"Whereas, the Borough has previously adopted areawide transportation systems powers; and
"Whereas, it is in the best interest of the citizens and property owners in the borough to supplement the available state and federal funds with the proceeds of a borough transportation systems bond; and
"Whereas, the proceeds of this bond will be utilized to build the key elements of the borough's transportation system to serve the needs of our growing community; and
"Whereas, under the provisions of AS 29.47.180 a municipality may acquire, construct, improve, and equip capital improvements and issue general obligation bonds for these purposes; and
"Whereas, under the provisions of AS 29.47.190 a municipality may incur general obligation bond debt only after a bond authorization ordinance is approved by a majority of those voting on the question at a regular or special election."

The cost to taxpayers is $15.89 per $100,000 in assessed value for 20 years.

For more information call Brad Sworts, manager of the Transportation and Environmental Division at 746-7430.

View the table of road projects.