Mat-Su Taxpayers Association
In the News..E-mail: matsu_taxpayers_assn@yahoo.com
Mat-Su Tax Cap top story of 2005, says ADN staff
Dec 28, 2005Mat-Su deputy mayor proposes own tax cap bill
July 21.2005Egomaniacal Assemblyman seeks to thwart October Tax Cap Vote
July 17, 2005
May 28, 2005
Palmer-- Tax Cap Certified for the October Election BallotThe report of the Canvass Board is as follows:
Total number of signatures of persons signing petition: 4404
Total number of signatures required to approve petition: 1788
Number of signatures counted: 1797
Number of signatures not counted: 172
Number of signatures questioned: 95This represents about a 10% spoilage rate for signatures gathered.. Better than we had expected..
Thank You all for your help in getting this question on the ballot!
For Immediate Release
May 16, 2005
Mat-Su Borough Tax Cap Initiative Tops 4400 Signatures
Wasilla-- Mat-Su Residents fed up with astronomical property tax increases have collected more than 4400 signatures representing about one third of the voters for an initiative petition for a borough wide tax cap in a pure grassroots effort. No money was spent on the signature gathering effort.1788 valid signatures are needed to place the question on the ballot for the Mat-Su Borough October 2005 Election.
Poor residents, working folks, businessmen, 18 year olds in entry level jobs and some of the oldest original settlers in the Valley lined up by the thousands to sign the petition. 72 citizens from Sutton to Talkeetna labored without pay to gather more than 4400 signatures. The senior volunteer turned 87 years young during the effort. The youngest volunteer is 18 years old.People struggling to raise their families in cabins, trailers and older homes, and retirees were hardest hit by huge tax increases, some as high as 76%.
Borough operating budget increases approaching 60% over three years grossly exceeded any combination of rational economic or population growth indicators including the Mat-Su Borough’s own economic analysis. Had the tax cap been in effect for this year, Borough budget revenue increase would have been about 6%.
The tax cap will effect only Borough wide taxes and not Road and Fire Service areas among some other exceptions. A Borough wide sales tax, if passed, would also fall under the tax cap further reducing the property owners burdon by forcing down the mil rate. The tax cap will not effect property values, just the amount that value is taxed.Increases in taxes approximately 3 times as large as the 6.3% increase in MLS sales value averages during the same time period (ADN, Jan 25, 2004) were matched by 300-1000% increases in planning and platting fees! Tai-Chi classes and Willow Chair making classes are not essential services!
The overused excuse for these budget increases has been growth in the Valley. With two robust years of growth, *7.5% in 2002 and 10% in 2003, Valley growth for 2004 dropped back down to it's pre 2002 numbers at 3.5% and is now growing slower than the entire Pacific West Coast demographic at *4%. Demographers estimate average annual Mat-Su growth to continue at 3.5%. Mat-Su average annual growth rate during the 80's was *12%, three times todays growth rate.
Tax Cap Sponsors delivered petitions to the Borough Clerk's Office Tuesday May 17, @ 2pm
*Sources: Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development, State Assessors Office and the US Census
###E-mail: matsu_taxpayers_assn@yahoo.com