New school makes no sense

New school. Fewer kids. Bigger bill.

Anchorage is tearing down Inlet View Elementary to build a brand new school while student enrollment keeps dropping citywide.

Over the last 15 years, the district has already closed five schools, yet this project moved forward anyway. Voters actually rejected a bond for this school in 2022, but the district still found funding by using about $26 million from a state grant that was supposed to lower property taxes. Instead of tax relief, homeowners are now seeing higher bills while total project costs climbed toward $50 million.

That extra money has to come from somewhere, and it lands right back on taxpayers.

At the same time, classrooms across Anchorage are sitting underused and budget shortfalls keep coming up in public meetings.

With more levies and tax proposals being discussed, people are questioning why shrinking enrollment means more construction.