Tonight, the Municipality of Anchorage Assembly votes on a proposed 3% sales tax at its Regular Assembly Meeting, Dec 2, 5pm-11pm. Buried deep in the agenda is Ordinance No. AO 2025-133, listed as item 14.K: the sales tax proposal.
The ordinance reads: “An ordinance of the Anchorage Assembly submitting to the qualified voters of the Municipality of Anchorage a ballot proposition amending the Home Rule Charter to authorize a 3% sales and use tax: 1% for property-tax relief; 1% for public safety and infrastructure; and 1% for childcare and housing; and authorizing borrowing from the MOA Trust Fund corpus to finance start-up costs. Chief Administrative Officer and Mayor LaFrance.”
New public hearings will begin no earlier than 6pm and end no later than 11pm. The proposed 3% sales tax is the 11th ordinance listed in this section with one ordinance following.
The public may give testimony in person at the Z.J. Loussac Library Assembly Chambers or submit a written testimony here: Assembly – Public Testimony.
Suggested Testimony Template
Here is a suggested testimony to read in person at the meeting or submit online. Please feel free to adjust it however suits you.
Chair and members,
My name is ________, and I’m an Anchorage resident.
I oppose Ordinance No. AO 2025-133 for the following reasons:
- Writing a new tax into the Charter is a significant, often permanent change. Once it is in place, future Assemblies and voters will have a very hard time adjusting or reversing it, even if the ordinance causes economic strain.
- A 3% sales tax is undeniably regressive. It raises the cost of living for families already stretched to the limit, while the promised property tax relief does not reach everyone—especially renters and lower-income households who will feel the hit immediately.
- The ordinance bundles several unrelated priorities into a single tax authorization. Public safety, childcare, housing, and tax relief are all important, but merging them together prevents residents from evaluating each one honestly and independently.
- Authorizing borrowing from the MOA Trust Fund corpus to cover start-up costs puts Anchorage’s long-term stability at risk.
Please vote no on Ordinance No. AO 2025-133. Thank you for your time.