Mat-Su voters easily passed lifetime term limits for borough mayor and assembly members, as well as additional property tax breaks for seniors and military veterans. They also approved new redistricting lines for the seven assembly districts spread across the borough.
The unofficial results of the July 12 special election report a turnout of just 7.95% of registered voters (7,226 out of 90,847). Those numbers will increase slightly as absentee mail-in ballots come in over the next three days. Election certification is set July 26, 5 p.m., at the Borough Assembly Chambers.
Propositions approved by voters include the following.
Proposition 1 deals with redistricting. After each federal census and adoption of a redistricting plan by the State Legislature, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly is required to propose to the voters a form of representation for the seven assembly districts. Click here to see the current and new district boundaries.
Proposition 2 and Proposition 3 address term limits for the borough mayor and borough assembly members. Current borough code limits a person from serving as mayor to “no more than two consecutive full terms.” The same applies for the assembly. The newly approved propositions state that a person can only serve two terms as mayor and two terms on the assembly over the course of their entire life.
Proposition 4 increases property tax exemption for property “owned and occupied as a permanent place of abode” by someone 65 years or older, disabled veterans, and widows and widowers of a person who was qualified for the exemption and who is at least 60 years old. The tax break increases the property exemption from the current $68,000 to $114,000. This is in addition to the $150,000 exemption already required by the state. The estimated cost to the borough for the additional exemptions is $2.9 million.
UNOFFICIAL VOTE COUNT
Proposition 1 (Redistricting)
— Yes: 5,797
— No: 1,313
Proposition 2 (Term limits for mayor)
— Yes: 4,961
— No: 2,222
Proposition 3 (Term limits for assembly members)
— Yes: 4,948
— No: 2,215
Proposition 4 (Property tax exemptions)
— Yes: 6,406
— No: 792
1 Comment
I’m not surprised there was such a poor voter turnout. We found out about it the night before from something you posted. Thank you for being on top of things as we were able to exercise our right to vote IN PERSON. Keep fighting the good fight. And Thank you again for the information you share.