MAT-SU—Last night the Assembly for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough began its budget deliberations in earnest. The Assembly adopted ten amendments that both reduced spending and funded new items, including a new mechanic for West Lakes Fire Service Area, a full-time fire chief for the growing Caswell & Willow fire service areas, and the requested three percent increase for education funding.

MAT-SU— This week, dedicated residents finished testifying before the Assembly of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough on the $418.5 million proposed budget. Deliberations begin on Monday, May 6, which will mark a difficult multi-day stretch for the Assembly as it combs through and shapes the budget into its final adopted form.

MAT-SU—Borough Manager John Moosey presented the proposed Borough budget to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly yesterday. Moosey also gave an overview of highlights that Borough staff and the Assembly and local Legislators have achieved on behalf of the Mat-Su Borough, including capable response to the 2012 federally-declared flood disaster, the ongoing construction of Port MacKenzie Rail, funding for increasing salmon returns, and 7.5 km of new Nordic ski trails at Government Peak among many other efforts.

MAT-SU—Matanuska-Susitna Borough officials greatly appreciate the $143 million in area funding for rail, roads, state highways, fire halls, schools, tourism and fisheries at a time when the State capital budget is tightening.

MAT-SU—Did you know that 36 percent of Alaska's new home construction was built in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in 2011? Learn how Mat-Su stands out by the numbers from the State Economist who's been analyzing Mat-Su outliers for years. Neal Fried gave an overview to the Borough Assembly this week. You can hear his talk and look at his slides here.

MAT-SU—Assembly Members for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough met with local Legislators recently to discuss state funding priorities for the Borough. The Port MacKenzie Rail Extension, the Port, Fisheries, reserve funding support for the Knik Arm Crossing and Bogard Road Extension are at the top of the list.

MAT-SU—The results from the Oct. 2, 2012 election for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough were certified tonight, and three Assembly Members and the Mayor took the oath of office. Voter turnout was 18.52 percent.

MAT-SU—Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss and Assembly Member Ron Arvin appear to be re-elected in tonight’s unofficial results. Assembly Members Jim Colver and Vern Halter ran unopposed. Debby Retherford gains School Board Seat A and Incumbent Sarah Welton retains School Board Seat B.

MAT-SU—Last night (May 15) the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly overturned three mayoral vetoes on the new budget. Monday night the Assembly adopted a budget with a new areawide mill rate for next year’s taxes. This year’s and next year’s tax rates are the same except for the increase approved by voters in October for road and school bonds. That increase is $33 per $100,000 of assessed value. The average assessed home of $211,400 will see a $70 tax increase for the new school and road infrastructure.

MAT-SU—The Assembly adopted the Borough's budget for next year last night, May 8. The mill rate is lower than last year at 9.918. The non-areawide mill rate is 0.489. By Wednesday afternoon Assemblymember Ron Arvin asked to reconsider the budget in order to increase the "reduction in the mill levy without cutting departmental budgets or reductions in services to the Borough residents," his motion states. Mayor DeVilbiss can make vetoes on the budget.

MAT-SU—After one night of deliberating the proposed budget, Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assemblymembers adopted 11 amendments ranging from addressing the high turnover for emergency responders to lowering the tax rates for some of the Borough’s 16 road service areas and eight fire service areas. More work continues tonight.

MAT-SU—A variety of speakers testified last night (May 2) before the Assembly of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough as it considers the proposed $393 million budget. Another hearing is scheduled tonight at the Central Mat-Su Public Safety Building.

Mat-Su– Thursday, April 19 Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss with Assembly Member Jim Colver at his side, signed Title 43 into law. The new subdivision regulations will simplify the process for developing land, helping stimulate development in the Mat-Su, DeVilbiss and Colver said.

MAT-SU—In a push to catch up with tremendous growth, Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly members presented transportation and tourism infrastructure projects as priorities to the Mat-Su legislative delegation Monday. The top funding requests include $60 million for Port MacKenzie Rail and $32 million to match taxpayer dollars on voter-approved road bonds.

The $60 million will build two more segments of the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension, bringing the project funding to two-thirds of the entire rail embankment from the port to Houston. The 11 road projects in the 2011 Road Bond Package will further develop the Borough’s connector and arterial road network.

MAT-SU—Steve Colligan took the oath of office Tues. night, becoming an Assemblymember for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough representing District 4, Wasilla. Colligan will take the seat on Oct. 24. The Assembly also certified the election and said goodbye to departing Assemblymember Cindy Bettine who served six years and reached term limits.

MAT-SU—In a 5 to 2 decision, the Assembly for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough voted to override Mayor Larry DeVilbiss’ veto of the proposed $32 million transportation bonds.

MAT-SU—A school bond package that addresses student population growth and aging schools in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough was adopted last night (Aug. 9) by the Borough Assembly, and will be placed on the ballot for the Oct. 4 election.

MAT-SU—A ballot question on towers, a delayed sewer-and-water-rate increase, new land for West Lakes Fire are among the items that were considered by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly Tues. July 19.

MAT-SU – Finalizing the budget last night, Mayor Larry DeVilbiss vetoed 13 line items. After approximately five hours of discussion with the Assembly, five vetoes remain. The cuts in the proposed Borough Budget will result in real tax savings to Borough residents.

MAT-SU—Six full-time paramedics, a snowmachine trailhead at Hatcher Pass, a consultant for port development, a lower areawide mill rate and a rebate for Mat-Su taxpayers are part of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough budget of $375,490,644 that passed last night. Of this, the School District receives $259 million—$48,347,365 from local taxpayers.