Eaglexit, the grassroots movement advocating for the separation of Assembly District 2 from the Municipality of Anchorage, and the incorporation as its own home rule borough, has reached a major milestone.

This month, the group submitted its complete petition package to the Alaska Local Boundary Commission (LBC) for technical review. This submission marks a critical step forward in creating the independent Chugach Regional Borough (CRB), a non-unified home rule borough that will encompass the communities of Eagle River, Chugiak, Birchwood, Eklutna, and JBER.

The complete petition package includes the proposed charter describing the design of the new borough, a map of the planned borders, a transition plan outlining the implementation of the new government and a brief detailing the legal aspects and advantages of separation from Anchorage.

According to Eaglexit’s analysis, detachment will not increase overall costs for the new borough and will lead to lower local taxes.

The stated mission of Eaglexit is to ensure that local residents have control over the destiny of their community and that tax dollars remain local.

Eaglexit aims to do away with standard-style schools in favor of publicly funded charter schools with the goal of strengthening local control, parental involvement and improved academic outcomes.

“We are turning Alaska’s promise of local self-government into practice by pursuing a home rule charter for the Chugach Regional Borough,” Eaglexit Chair Catherine Margolin stated in a Nov. 16 notice. “A lean, responsive government will be right here at home; easy to reach, quick to listen, and making decisions based on what our community needs and wants, not what distant officials think is best.”

Eaglexit’s main arguments for detachment include creating a smaller government footprint with lower taxes, preservation of local identity and culture, tailored economic development to promote area businesses and revitalize the economy and an innovative approach to public education.

Eaglexit aims to do away with standard-style schools in favor of publicly funded charter schools with the goal of strengthening local control, parental involvement and improved academic outcomes.

If approved, the new district would comprise a total of 14 charter schools – 10 elementary, two middle, and two high schools.

According to Eaglexit, this model aims to avoid top-down centralized administration in favor of a model that flows up through the schools and community to give parents and students greater influence.

Each of the proposed charter schools would include a foundational curriculum and specialty courses based on parents’ and students’ needs and desires.

Eaglexit also argues that detaching from Anchorage will allow the area to better address community safety needs when it comes to streets, road maintenance, snow plowing and other core services.

Now that Eaglexit has submitted its formal petition, the Local Boundary Commission has 45 days to complete a technical review and either approve the package or send the petition back for revisions. Once it is informally approved, Eaglexit can begin the effort to obtain signatures from residents of Eagle River, Chugiak, Birchwood, and Eklutna to proceed to a public vote regarding detachment. The final vote could occur in the fall of 2027.

Click here to support Alaska Watchman reporting.