Six bond issues on tap for April 3 municipal election

ANCHORAGE (AP) -- A half-dozen bond issues will be decided in the upcoming Anchorage municipal election, ranging from parks to roads, fire stations to transit centers.

The six bond propositions to be decided April 3 total nearly $56 million. If voters were to agree to the package, it would add $41.21 per $100,000 of property to the taxes of most property owners.

Roads account for both of the largest two propositions. Proposition 10 would provide $32.1 million for a long list of street upgrades and repaving, signal and sign work, storm drains and sidewalks. It covers 47 projects in all parts of town.

Proposed projects include extending Gambell and Ingra streets down to the Ship Creek railyard and diverting tractor-trailer truck traffic away from busy downtown streets. At $9 million, the project would add $6.26 annually in taxes on $100,000 worth of property.

The project proposed by Mayor George Wuerch is opposed by the Fairview Community Council and the Government Hill Community Council, which fear it will funnel more truck traffic through their neighborhoods.