Mat Su Borough Election Propositions

 The ballot propositions will appear areawide on the Matanuska Susitna Borough’s election ticket on October 7. Proposition 1, a reapportionment plan sponsored by Mat Su Assemblyman Steve Colligan, would align the Borough’s voting districts more closely with state division of elections voting precincts. The Borough Assembly approved an ordinance earlier this year that allows the reapportionment, pending voter approval. Assemblyman Steve Colligan

“To me it’s pretty simple. It really helps the public understand, clarifies where their voting precinct is, and it aligns those with the Assembly boundaries.”

 He says Prop 1 is an effort to avoid split precincts.  Colligan says the reapportionment changes Borough district boundaries to better fit the lines of state polling precincts. At present, state polling precincts include voters from two or more Borough voting districts.

“And the initiative before the voters is basically to align the Borough’s boundaries so they more closely match the state boundaries on people’s voter cards. Right now, in order to manage elections in polling places, the boundaries cut through precincts, two or sometimes three times, and the Borough clerk has had to come up with a colored ballot process and have people go point on a map where they live. “

Prop 1 eliminates fourteen polling locations, and allows only one split district near Willow to remain. According to Borough clerk Lonnie McKechnie, the proposition affects fewer than one thousand voters.   If prop one passes, three hundred and fourteen voters will be moved from Borough District 3 to District 5 in the biggest change afforded by the ballot proposition.  If passed, the ballot initiative goes into effect at next year’s Borough election.

Colligan, a mapmaker by profession, is running unopposed for the Borough ‘s District 4 seat.

Borough Proposition 2 increases the amount of assessed real property value a senior citizen or military veteran would be able to claim as a Borough tax deduction. At present, seniors, disabled veterans and widows or widowers of a person who qualified for an exemption can claim a 150 thousand dollar real property tax exemption on a permanent abode. Prop 2 adds an additional 68 thousand dollars to that for a total exemption of 218 thousand dollars.

Prop 2 would allow the increase in exemption along with any other exemption applicable to the property.

Critics of Prop 2 say, if passed, it will eat into Borough revenues.