OPINION: The Anchorage school bond makes economic sense

Protecting our students and ensuring safe schools are key to building our workforce. That is why we, as members of the Anchorage business community, are coming together to encourage Anchorage voters to vote yes on Proposition 1 — the Anchorage school bond.

Alaska businesses continue to struggle with the reality that for every two open positions, there is only person to fill a job. Good schools are the number one factor families consider when picking where to live. So, whether it is retaining our current workforce or recruiting new employees, our schools — and this bond — are key to supporting our economy.

This bond affects as many as 10,000 students all across our community, from Chugiak to South Anchorage. The $62 million bond funds critical projects like roof repairs, secure entry vestibules and seismic safety, as well as planning for future projects. There is no alternative process to fund these projects. If the bond fails, these projects will not happen — meaning costs and safety risks will increase.

As any business owner or homeowner will tell you, ignoring a need for critical maintenance is never the best path forward. And when it comes to keeping our kids safe, we must fulfill our obligations to ensure a safe learning environment for all students.

We also understand the need to be fiscally prudent so we reviewed the facts. In the last two fiscal years, the Anchorage School District has retired $104 million with plans to retire an additional $175 million over the next five years. With this year’s bond totaling $62 million, the math demonstrates we are on a responsible path to complete these projects. Furthermore, this bond’s cost to taxpayers is estimated to be only $12.69 per $100,000 of assessed property valuation. Now, that is what we call a good investment.

While our jobs may not all look the same, our belief that there is no better investment than our schools is unanimous. We hope Anchorage voters will come together to support safe schools and a strong workforce by voting yes on Proposition 1.

Michael Fredericks, Katherine Jernstrom, Max Kubitz, Evan Fried, Gretchen Fauske, Evelyn Rousso, Julie Hasquet, Dana Nunn, Schawna Thoma, Mike Carlson, Laile Fairbairn, Garrett Burtner and Cara Rude are entrepreneurs and members of the Anchorage business community.

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