AREA-WIDE PUBLIC SAFETY AND
TRANSPORTATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS

For the purpose of providing public safety upgrades, including acquisition of mobile intensive care units, computers for ambulances, public transportation vehicles, transportation facility improvements and related capital improvements, shall Anchorage issue up to $1,688,000 in principal amount of general obligation bonds and increase the municipal tax cap by an amount not to exceed $90,000 to pay annual operations and maintenance costs? The proposed capital improvements would be located within Anchorage.

Voter approval of this bond proposition authorizes for each $100,000 of assessed taxable property value (based on the estimated total 2008 area-wide assessed valuation in Anchorage) (i) an annual increase in taxes of approximately $0.44 to retire the proposed bonds, and (ii) an annual increase in the Municipal Tax Cap (Charter 14.03(b)(2)) of approximately $0.29 to pay for annual operations and maintenance costs related to the proposed capital improvements.

The debt shall be paid from real and personal property taxes levied and collected area-wide within Anchorage. Anchorage will also pledge its full faith and credit for payment of the bonds.

To be voted upon by all qualified voters residing within the Municipality of Anchorage.

Reasons to vote YES for Public Safey and Transportation Bonds:

This area-wide bond would pay for replacement ambulances and ambulance firefighter airpacks and bottles. It would also leverage federal funds to improve Anchorage transit facilities and replace old buses.

Public Safety ($1.038 million)

  •  Pay for three replacement ambulances to be stationed at Airport Heights, Midtown, and       Muldoon stations.

  •  Ambulances have a 100,000 mile replacement schedule. An Anchorage ambulance runs       30,000 miles a year.

  •  Replaces 32 airpacks and 64 air bottles on all 16 areawide ambulances (includes Chugiak       and Girdwood ambulances) to the new required national standard.

Transit ($650,000)

  •  Leverage an 80/20 federal grant/required municipal matching funds ($400,000 Federal/       $100,000 G.O. Bonds) to replace aging People Mover, AnchorRides, and vanpool vehicles to       maintain current service levels and reduce maintenance costs.

  •  Leverage another 80/20 federal grant/required municipal matching funds ($500,000 Federal/       $125,000 G. O. Bonds) to upgrade an aging maintenance facility, complete construction of a       paratransit operations center.

  •  Leverage yet another 80/20 federal grant/required municipal matching funds ($1,700,000       Federal / $425,000 G.O. Bonds) to improve bus stops and facilities to meet ADA (Americans       with Disabilities Act) requirements, transit fleet and computer system upgrades, major bus       maintenance projects and automated operating systems.

  •  Federal Transit Administration and Federal Highway Administration grants provide $4 to $9       for every $1 of Anchorage bond matching funds for transit projects.

  •  Consequently, the proposed $650,000 in Prop 6 transit bonds will provide required local       matching funds and secure a minimum of $2,600,000 in federal funds.