Anchorage Voters: Smaller Classes or Higher Taxes?

0:00From the streets of Anchorage to the world, this is Anchorage News Today. Anchorage voters face a key decision this April with Proposition 9 on the ballot. It's a one-time property tax levy aimed at keeping class sizes smaller in local schools. The measure would raise about $12 million dollars, all dedicated to retaining 90 experienced teachers who might otherwise get cut. Schools here are dealing with an $83 million budget shorefall next year, forcing average class sizes up by four students starting in. 2026-27 High schools could see 36 kids per class, while primary grades hit 27 ratios already seven students worse than a decade ago. Smaller classes mean more individual attention, easier spotting of struggling kids, fewer behavior problems, and less teacher burnout. Parents and educators worry this will hurt students' success and make classrooms harder to manage, especially for young children. Proposition 9 would trim those increases by two students per class,

1:01dropping high school to 34 and primary to 25. It comes after the district already slashed $13.7 million in admin costs, with just 4.5% of the budget going to, administration anyway, the levy costs homeowners about $27 per $100,000 of property value, or roughly $9 on average. With state funding lagging for years, this local step could buy time until better support arrives, urging a yes vote to prioritize classroom teaching. The daily news now is powered by our sponsor. Press play, put your head down. The sound is already there, S-O-L-I-SOLYPILO.COM.