Funding, roads top issues in assembly race

Peninsula voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide a variety of issues, including who takes seats on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly.

Only some of the electorate will cast ballots for assembly members.

Voters in District 1, the Kali-fornsky area, have a choice. Incumbent John C. Davis, who is finishing a one-year term, is being challenged by political newcomer Dan Chay, who seeks to take Davis' seat. The District 1 seat will be a three-year term. Both candidates are from Kenai.

Only incumbents filed for office in Districts 6 and 9.

Ron Long of Seward is seeking a second three-year term in District 6, the East Peninsula District.

Milli Martin of Diamond Ridge also is seeking a three-year term in District 9, the South Peninsula District.

Among the issues facing the assembly in the coming year are how to pay the costs of educating borough school children in light of the reductions in state funding, and the continuing costs of maintaining borough roads.

Other issues include whether developers of new subdivisions should be required to build roads to higher standards than current borough code requires and decisions regarding ongoing efforts to update the borough's Comprehensive Plan.

Also likely to face the new assembly will be how to handle proposed changes in state road construction funding. A proposed state reform could put more of the cost of roads on local municipalities.

Borough finances will be on the front burner for the next assembly. Today, the borough has a healthy fund balance, but continued cuts in state aid could change the equation. That will require borough lawmakers to make critical decisions on how and when to commit borough reserves and whether future property tax or sales tax increases are warranted.