Anchorage residents have another chance to speak on Mayor Suzanne LaFrance’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget at the Assembly’s second public hearing on Wednesday, November 4. Final action is expected November 17.
The operating budget is $692.5 million. The administration calls it a continuation of current service levels. It sits about $34,000 under the property tax cap. To close a roughly $15 million gap, the city is using one-time money— including about $8.4 million left from the ML&P sale— plus cuts to vacant positions. Those one-time funds run out next year. Officials have already warned the shortfall could nearly double to around $30 million in 2028.
While the city faces a fiscal cliff and rising costs for police, fire, and street maintenance, the Equity & Inclusion department is still getting an increase. The proposed budget raises that office from $438,057 to $449,072— a 2.5 percent bump. Nearly all of the new money goes to salaries and benefits, which rise to $388,066 for two full-time employees whose work includes collecting and monitoring “equity benchmarks” and tracking “systemic disparities.”
In a budget that relies on one-time funds to avoid deeper cuts this year, critics have questioned why any expansion of that office is on the table at all. The department’s mission is to “advance equity” and “eliminate inequities” across municipal operations and the community.
Public safety sees modest increases: Police up about $2.4 million and Fire up nearly $4.9 million. Maintenance and Operations grows with a shift toward more in-house snow removal. Homelessness programs continue, including crisis care, outreach, and shelter contracts. The capital side proposes an $87.9 million bond package (excluding the school district) for roads, drainage, parks, fire equipment, and other projects. Those bonds, if approved by voters in April 2027, are repaid through property taxes.
Anchorage residents can testify in-person at the Assembly Meeting on November 4 or register to provide written or phone testimony by visiting muni.org/testify.
Primary Sources
Early voting for the 2026 general election is underway. Do your part— go vote today!
MRAK web content published until the end of election day won’t require a subscription to access. After election day, most web content will require readers to sign up for a free account. Free subscribers receive the Must Read Weekly sent on Mondays (unsubscribe from emails anytime and retain web access). You can also support Must Read Alaska with a paid subscription. See subscriptions for details.
