By SUZANNE DOWNING
Oct. 20, 2026 – Mat-Su Borough voters will decide whether to approve two new taxes, expand the borough’s road powers, and change School Board terms when they cast ballots Nov. 3, the same day as the state and federal general election.
Four Assembly seats and two School Board seats are also on the borough ballot. Early voting began Oct. 19 and continues through Nov. 2.
Who is running
The borough’s final candidate slate lists these candidates:
| Office | Candidates and listed affiliations |
| Assembly District 1 | Thomas E. Bergey, Republican; Chris Chiavetta, Republican; Michelle Heun, nonpartisan |
| Assembly District 2 | Philip Licht, Republican; Scott Lindbloom, Democrat; Dana Raffaniello, Republican |
| Assembly District 4 | Maxwell Sumner, Republican |
| Assembly District 5 | Bill Gamble, Republican |
| School Board District 3 | Kathy McCollum, Republican |
| School Board District 6 | R. Ole Larson, Republican; Jesse M. Sumner, Republican |
Voters choose one candidate in each applicable race. The Assembly seats carry four-year terms.
School Board members McCollum and Larson are seeking reelection. Larson faces former state Rep. Jesse Sumner, while McCollum is the only listed candidate in District 3. Maxwell Sumner and Gamble are also incumbents.
Proposition A: Four-year School Board terms
Proposition A would change School Board terms from three years to four and establish transition terms to align elections with the corresponding Assembly districts.
Under the proposed schedule, School Board Districts 3 and 6 would have two-year transition terms running from 2026 to 2028. Four-year terms for those seats would begin in 2028. A no vote would retain three-year terms.
Proposition B: A 5% alcohol tax
Proposition B would impose a 5% tax on retail alcoholic beverage sales throughout the borough, including Palmer, Wasilla, and Houston. Retailers would collect it beginning April 1, 2027.
The borough estimates revenue of $3 million to $7.5 million. Approval would not directly reduce property taxes.
Proposition C: A sales tax paired with a home exemption
Proposition C combines a 1% areawide sales tax with a $75,000 exemption from the taxable value of qualifying owner-occupied homes.
Borough projections put annual sales-tax revenue at about $21 million and the property-tax revenue reduction at $12 million to $15 million.
The exemption requires an application and cannot be combined with other exemptions. Renters would pay the sales tax without receiving the homeowner exemption. Generally, only the first $1,000 of a transaction would be taxed.
Proposition D: Broader authority for road projects
Proposition D would authorize the borough to acquire public rights-of-way and design and construct roads, streets, sidewalks, and related drainage facilities on an areawide basis.
The measure asks voters to grant authority for transportation work rather than approve a particular construction project.
How to vote
Borough early-voting locations include the borough building in Palmer, Menard Sports Center, Houston City Hall, Talkeetna Library, and Trapper Creek Library. Hours vary by location.
Applications for borough absentee ballots by mail are due Oct. 27. Voters should note that the borough’s application is separate from the state’s absentee-ballot application.
Mailed borough ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within three calendar days afterward. Hand-delivered ballots must reach a borough election official by 8 pm Nov. 3.
Voting details and polling-place resources are available at matsu.gov/elections, or through the borough clerk’s office at 907-861-8683.
4 thoughts on “Mat-Su voters face two tax proposals, Assembly and School Board races now to Nov. 3”
My concern about the exemption and added sales tax is it opens door to sales tax as the norm in general while still having property tax. It essentially hurts seniors (65+) and disabled veterans also who already have an exemption, as they won’t be able to benefit from additional exemption but would then have to pay sales tax.
Elizabeth,
I loathe sales tax, wanna know why?
I walk into a store, I see an item priced at $4.99, I have a 5 dollar bill in my pocket, it’s a beautiful thing IF there isn’t sales tax, transaction goes smoothly.
Now, go to Kodiak, Kotzebue, Nome, Juneau or any other place with sales tax and suddenly that $4.99 purchase is complicated. It’s real price is $5.34! I have to break out another dollar and pack around coin for the rest of the day.
Say what you like about the Commie controlled Anchorage, it doesn’t have Sales Tax!
Oh, another thing, it forces every business into being a tax collector. Very unfair.
Also, there are more details worth reading on pros and cons of the borough ballot propositions at the borough website. Worth reading I think. https://matsu.gov/ballot-propositions Not sure if links are allowed in our posts….
Vote NO on prop D! This prop will eliminate local area road service area boards from having input on which projects have priority. It will allow the MVP (matsu valley plan) to enable a MTP (metropolitan transportation plan) which decides priorities and requires a % of local road tax money that we don’t have and can’t afford.
Current local area road budgets can’t afford needed maintenance and proposed upgrades for gravel roads are put aside for years. Assembly members are reluctant to increase road mill rates but if this is approved they will need to.