PoliticsAnchorage · January 17, 2026
Property taxes, not sales
Anchorage leaders pause a proposed sales tax and ask voters to approve a property tax levy for schools.
Daily Alaska staff · January 17, 2026 · Anchorage
City leaders in Anchorage have paused a proposed 3 percent sales tax and are instead asking voters to approve a one time education tax levy meant to help the Anchorage School District close an $83 million budget shortfall.
If voters approve the levy in April, property taxes would rise about $27 per $100,000 of assessed value. A $400,000 home would see roughly a $100 increase for the year, a direct cost for homeowners across the city.
The mayor has described the levy as a short term fix rather than a long term solution to the district's budget problems.
The mayor also said classrooms and staffing are at stake if the measure fails at the polls.
In this story
Questions people ask
How much would property taxes go up for schools?
About $27.40 per $100,000 of assessed value, meaning a $400,000 home would see roughly a $100 increase for the year.
When do Anchorage voters decide on this school tax?
In April.
Why is Anchorage proposing a new tax for schools?
The Anchorage School District faces an $83 million budget shortfall, and this levy would help close that gap quickly.
What happened to the sales tax idea?
City leaders paused the proposed 3 percent sales tax and are pushing the education property tax levy instead.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- Anchorage city leaders paused a proposed 3 percent sales tax and are pushing a one time education tax levy instead. · alaskapublic.org
- The Anchorage School District faces an $83 million budget shortfall. · alaskapublic.org
- The proposed levy would raise property taxes about $27.40 per $100,000 of assessed value if approved by voters in April. · alaskapublic.org
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