School Bond Information, November 2, 2004 Election

It's been a long process, but the completion of Chugiak High School's needed renovation is in sight. There's just one phase left for construction workers to tackle: House Four classroom renovation and improvements to the athletic fields and bus loading and parking areas.

School Bond Proposition 2 on the November 2 ballot funds the design of that final phase. It also funds the next phases of renovation and design at Bartlett, East and Service, giving each of those schools a longer and more functional life too, just like Chugiak. ASD only asks voters for funding on a phase-by-phase basis as the work progresses. This bond funds the next phases of work and keeps the projects on track and on schedule.

School Bond Proposition 1 funds the construction of a new middle school in northeast Anchorage that will ease overcrowding at Central, Clark and Wendler middle schools. Those three schools are all over 100 percent capacity and use 19 portable classrooms combined to house their overflow of students.

Building and maintaining schools are an investment by the community, and, like any investment, there is a cost. Prop 1 qualifies for 60 percent state reimbursement and Prop 2 for 63 percent, subject to annual legislative appropriation. State reimbursement reduces the cost to local taxpayers. For every $100,000 of 2004 assessed property value, and with state reimbursement, Props 1 and 2 combined will cost taxpayers $12.89 a year to retire the bonds and $9.60 a year for operation and maintenance of the added facility space.

Make an informed decision on November 2