Voters Reject Three Bond Packages, Approve Five

In addition to the six assembly and two school board races in yesterday’s Anchorage Municipal Election, voters decided the fate of 11 ballot propositions. KSKA’s Len Anderson has the results.

On Tuesday, voters approved one of three school district bond propositions. But not the largest. Proposition One – asking for approximately 31 million dollars to finish the renovation of Service High School – was rejected by 56 percent of the voters. Proposition Two for capital maintenance and design projects totaling around 17 million dollars, fell by about the same margin.

But the 17 million dollar Proposition Three to expand career and technology facilities in the middle and high schools, posted a 52 percent yes vote.

Four of the municipality’s five bond requests found voter favor. They were:

Proposition Four, approximately 31 million dollars for roads and sewer projects, 61 percent,

Proposition 6, just under a million dollars for public safety and transportation, 58 percent,

Proposition 7, a ladder truck replacement for a million and half, 53 percent and Proposition 8, 250-thousand dollars for the police department, also 53 percent.

A three million dollar request for park and recreation department bonds – Proposition Five – was rejected by 54 percent of the Anchorage voters.

As for the the three non-bond propositions – the proposal to grant a 150 thousand dollars property tax exemption to the surviving spouses under the age of 65 of disabled veterans received 62 percent approval. Changing the municipal charter to allow a city agency rather than only sworn police officers to issue parking tickets in the downtown area, passed by 572 votes.

And an advisory proposition about requiring a photo ID when purchasing alcohol in Anchorage liquor package stores, received 67 percent voter backing.

The results are unofficial. Absentee ballots will be counted on April 15th with the Anchorage Assembly scheduled to certify the election on April 19th.

Len Anderson, KSKA – Anchorage

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