KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | Eagle River, Chugiak feeling deep budget cuts from city

Eagle River, Chugiak feeling deep budget cuts from city

by Jason Lamb
Friday, November 6, 2009

EAGLE RIVER, Alaska -- With a difficult city budget situation, next year -- some cuts are inevitable.

But are some parts of the town being targeted more than others?

The mayor's 2010 budget proposal includes a number of cuts to make up for increased expenses next year.

Among the cuts, reductions in People Mover routes in Eagle River and Chugiak.

Also hitting the area, the hours at the brand new branch library, which has the second-highest circulation in Anchorage, will be cut back.

Assembly Chair Debbie Ossiander, who serves that area on the Assembly, says for those reasons, people in Eagle River and Chugiak feel hit especially hard by the proposed cuts.

"That's not a new feeling for Chugiak-Eagle River, and a lot of it is due to lack of good communication between the city and the folks out there. It's certainly hard to swallow when you've had bus routes in place for over 30 years and now they're going," Ossiander said.

When it comes to the proposed bus route eliminations, Chugiak-Eagle River Assemblyman Bill Starr says the economy is forcing the changes -- even in his own back yard.

"At this point I'm supportive of the bus route cuts. I was (also supportive of the cuts) under the Begich administration because taking a 40,000 pound bus around with two or three people in it, doesn't make sense economically," Starr said via phone.

But Starr says it doesn't mean he wants the reduction of public transportation in Eagle River and Chugiak to continue.

"I've pledged to work on an alternate solution that produces a different model, whether it's a grant program, expanding the Anchor Rides program, a federal program that may give us specific commuter support under different programs, that's what I'm going to work on," Starr said.

Another cut that might have affected the Eagle River area was the proposed closure of the South Fork Auxiliary fire station due to a lack of call outs -- and the time it took for firefighters to arrive at the station and head out on a call.

"The chief made a good strategic decision and he's confident that service will remain strong, and I have confidence in his judgment," said Mayor Dan Sullivan in mid-October.

But the mayor's office has apparently changed its mind, now saying the station won't be closed.

"I talked to (City Manager George) Vakalis about that this morning and he again assured me that now it will be kept open, it will be kept warm with equipment there," Ossiander said.

"I'm encouraged to say just a little bit of education to the mayor and the new administration probably was all it took. It wasn't a friction-driven discussion by any means," Starr said.

So perhaps the news isn't all bad for Eagle River and Chugiak, but maybe Ossiander says it best.

"It's challenging, and oftentimes it is the people who feel the pain the most who view the system as unfair," Ossiander said.

In addition to the South Fork fire station reversal, there may be some more changes from the mayor's budget plan proposed officially on Nov. 17 in the form of amendments before the Assembly is scheduled to vote on the budget.

Contact Jason Lamb at jlamb@ktuu.com