Dear Anchorage voters,

On April 3, I encourage you to cast your vote on two school bond propositions. If approved, the bonds will repair and upgrade security systems at many of our schools districtwide and replace Clark Middle School, which is outdated and inefficient.

I believe all students deserve decent facilities to learn. At the same time, I understand the concerns of property owners. For those reasons, I committed to asking voters for no more than the amount we've paid off since the last school bonds passed in November 2004. Between then and the April 3 election, the district will have paid off $86.6 million in bond debt. The two school bond projects on the April ballot total $85 million.

Taxpayers should also know we are currently approved to receive 60 percent State debt reimbursement on the Clark replacement project and 70 percent reimbursement on major maintenance, repairs and security upgrades. In all, the State will pay 62.4 percent of the combined costs of both bond propositions, subject to annual legislative appropriation. Since 1993, the legislature has fully funded the debt reimbursement program. The reimbursement will significantly lower the taxpayer cost of the projects from $85 million to $32 million.

Sincerely,
Carol Comeau