While Anchorage voters appear to have approved a slew of new bonds for roads, parks and public safety, they are sharply divided on whether to increase property taxes and take on nearly $80 million in new school debt.
According to early returns from the April 7 municipal election, voters are narrowly rejecting two school measures. Proposition 9, which is trailing 48.94% to 49.84%, aims to impose new property taxes to raise roughly $12 million for teacher positions and student programming.
Likewise, Proposition 1 is also losing in early returns, 49.19% to 49.49%. This measure asked voters to take on an additional $79.4 million in bond debt for school construction, upgrades, and renovations, as well as the planning and design of future capital projects.
At least half of Anchorage’s voters appear to have rejected the idea of pouring more money into a rapidly shrinking school district, which is closing down schools amid declining student enrollment and increased interest in homeschooling and private education options.
According to the school district’s website, it has seen a 15% drop in student enrollment from 2010 to 2025 (7,487 fewer students) and a 137% growth in correspondence school students over that same time span.
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Down to just 41,671 students this year, Anchorage has now shuttered five schools over the past decade, with more on the chopping block for next year.
Despite the downsizing efforts, the district still has nearly 90 buildings under its control, most of which are experiencing shrinking enrollment and numerous empty classrooms. These schools represent nearly 8 million square feet of building space.
If the ballot measures fail, the district will likely need to tighten its belt further, as the educational landscape continues to change from a primarily brick-and-mortar model to one that includes an increasingly popular variety of home, private and religious schooling.
As of April 8, there have been 42,124 ballots submitted, which represents about 18% of registered voters. Due to Anchorage’s mail-in election system, ballots that were postmarked on April 7 have roughly two weeks after election day to arrive in the mail and be counted. Updates to the election results will be posted throughout the week on the city’s election website. The Anchorage Assembly is scheduled to certify the official results during its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 28.
