PALMER -- If the Matanuska-Susitna Borough wants to fix its popular pools, hockey rink and trails, the borough Assembly could put a nearly $18 million bond package before voters, officials say.
The borough's aging recreational infrastructure is in need of immediate repair, community development director Eric Phillips told the Mat-Su Assembly at a meeting Tuesday.
Pools at Wasilla and Palmer were built in 1980 and 1982, respectively, and the Brett Memorial Ice Arena in 1984. Borough trails date back at least 30 years. The pools average 400,000 visitors a year and the Brett gets about 57,000.
Phillips likened the situation to a car with 400,000 miles on the odometer.
"They are running but they could fail us at any time," he said.
Phillips said he just wants to start a conversation about the possibility of paying for repairs to examine the likelihood that voters will approve a bond.
Mat-Su is headed into a difficult budget season with few revenue sources outside of property taxes that have remained largely flat for several years. The state's $3.5 billion shortfall is also expected to cut into municipal budgets around Alaska.
Like most municipal recreation facilities, the borough's are heavily subsidized. User fees at the pools cover only about 40 percent of operating costs, for example.
Itemized, the potential list of bond items looks like this:
Assembly member George McKee told Phillips the borough needs to be clear with voters about where any bond money might go, noting that about a third of the Wasilla Pool estimate is for "unspecified contingencies."
"I wouldn't build a house that way and you wouldn't either," McKee said. "You'd want to know what your money was being spent on."