Reasons Not to Allow City of Wasilla to Annex Your Property

1. Most of the businesses are already in the Wasilla City limits, there will be very little additional sales tax revenue, so exactly how will they get the additional money to fund increased staffing? Property taxes, that's where.

2. Annexation into the City, is going to make housing more expensive. If the City's building permit department grows into anything like that of Anchorage, you can expect to be told how you will build your house, then wait for inspectors who have no liability for their inspections, but demand you make changes on the spot or they won't approve the work. Banks already require inspections by independent inspectors, and the system works well, is fast, and inexpensive.

3. The politicians make campaign promises with your money. In Anchorage, from 2003 through 2008, the city budget rose from about $230MM to over $400 MM at the hands of Mayor Mark Begich, and property taxes doubled (up by 50%) over the same period. Inflation rose only 19% same time. The city budget should have gone from $230MM to only around $285 MM, but instead went up to $400MM, and now Anchorage is in a bind.

4. In spite of the good intentions of current City of Wasilla officials, there is no guarantee that future officials will treat you the same. Speaking of good intentions, previously when the City annexed land, during Local Boundary Commission hearings they said "We don't want to annex lands into the City unless there is 100% agreement of the landowners in the annexation area." Guess they changed their minds, hunh? Now they don't even want a vote! That's what politicians do, they look out for their best interests, not yours. What they really want, is more property taxpayers so they can spread the joy, in small little increments. I mean come on, bigger city = more employees, bigger paychecks, big labor contracts to fund, more healthcare expenses to fund, retirement packages for outgoing executives, and the list goes on!. Where do you think the money will come from? Put your hand in your pocket, that's where!

5. Look at how the Municipality of Anchorage has handled their property taxes, it's a pretty neat little trick. If they want more revenue and the tax mill rate is restricted, they simply raise the valuation of your house or property. If you want to appeal your property assessment you pay $750 just for the chance. Property taxes in Anchorage have gone up 45-50% since 2003 through the end of Begich's term. Anchorage did not get 45% more in services, nor did it get 45% more land, nor 45% more buildings. All Anchorage got was 45% higher cost of an expanded government. Don't fall for this.

6. Do you want to apply for and pay for a permit to clear your land, or when you can clear it or how much of it you can clear? Do you want to have to go purchase a permit to put a shed on your property, and then be told how big it can be and where you have to put it? How about for a deck?

7. Do you want a "city official" to tell you what you can do on your land? Say you have horses, and have had them there for 25 years, and you board a few for the winter for your neighbor or friend. If it turns into anything like Anchorage, they'll come and tell you they're going to outlaw it, and shut it down because it doesn't conform to "their future plan".

8. Do you want city officials raise your taxes to pay for their pet projects like heated streets in downtown Anchorage when Anchorage already has a full road maintenance crew, and install it at a time when Southcentral is running into a natural gas shortage? How about authorize paying $30,000/month lease for a ½ acre parking lot across from Anchorage City Hall?

9. How about some other election campaign promise, in order to buy someone's vote?

10. Do you or your kids want to be able to ride snowmachines, motorcycles, ATV's around the area? Used to be able to in Anchorage, but not anymore.

11. In Anchorage, you used to be able to ride 10 miles thru Anchorage with a .22 rifle, now you or your kid can't even shoot a BB gun.

12. Access to public utilities (water & sewer), and through the ability to form local improvement districts? Here's how it works. You and a bunch of neighbors form a local improvement district and agree to have the city extend utilities to your area. It's not paid for by taxes. The city then secures your written agreement to pay for those improvements, then they issue a bond, get the money and pay for the improvements. It costs $600-$1000/lineal foot to install water, sewer, road, curb and gutter. If your lot and the one across the street from you are 100 feet wide, it costs $60-100,000 to go past your lot, which you and your neighbor split. You will be agreeing to pay half the total cost, which they "assess against your property, in the amount of $30,000 to $50,000 plus interest over 20 years (an additional $214-358/month at 6% interest). The city doesn't "provide" it from your tax dollars, your tax dollars are used to plan it, then they assess you for the total cost. And oh, I almost forgot the best part of the local improvement district process, it's called the City's "overhead and administrative" fee! If it happens like Anchorage, then the City will tack on an additional 25% to the project for "overhead and administrative" fees, just to watch over the process!

13. Getting you into an area annexed by the City of Wasilla isn't going to bring you water, and sewer services, it's going to bring you the right to pay to extend the City's water and sewer pipes, and when complete turn ownership and maintenance over to them, and then get a bill from them every month. Of course, then they will tax you for the utilities you buy as well.

14. What if you already had a well, and septic installed, and your neighbors formed a local improvement district around you? Tough luck, you are still obligated and your land will be assessed.

15. The city doesn't want to get "more people involved in government". What they "meant" to say was they want more people involved to govern. Which is exactly what they'll do if you let them. If they were truly concerned about getting more people involved in government, why wouldn't they listen to the people at the Annexation Neighborhood meetings and stop this plan, or at a minimum, put it to a vote?

16. City budgets and employment, EXPAND into the funds available to them. If they can tax you more and build up their kingdom, they will.

17. And of course city officials first option would be to send it to the legislature for approval, no public scrutiny there. DEMAND that it be put to a vote of the affected residents, that way it gets a fair chance of being representative of the will of the people.

18. This can be stopped, but it will take just a little bit of effort on your part. It will take a call, a letter, or an email, at the appropriate time to stop it. We'll let you know when we need your help, and appreciate your assistance to stop this.