The $12 Million School Levy: A Taxpayer Trap from Weak Leadership That's Failing Anchorage Families

Posted by Alexander Rosales on January 12, 2026

As a 20-year Air Force veteran, educator, and dad, I've dedicated my life to spotting fraud, waste, and abuse from military operations to the classroom. It's ingrained in me: We don't throw more money at problems; we fix them at the source. That's why Mayor LaFrance's pivot from a 3% sales tax to a $12 million one-time property tax levy for the Anchorage School District (ASD) is so frustrating. Announced just before tomorrow's Assembly meeting, this levy is pitched as a lifeline for classrooms amid "stagnant" state increases to the BSA, but they forget to address the multipliers that overinflate the ACTUAL spending per student. Alaska is already spending well into the top 5 in the nation, even when taking into account cost of living. But let's call it what it is: a band-aid tax that burdens homeowners while ignoring ASD's bloated budget, weak leadership, and failure to make tough decisions. The mayor and School Board are kicking the can down the road, driving up costs for families, and pretending inflation is the villain when their overspending is the real culprit. Anchorage deserves better schools where kids start their day with pride and purpose, not more taxes without reform.

Follow @AlexForSchools on all major social media channels for updates on ASD spending, accountability, and local control.

ASD's Bloated Budget: Where Does the Money Really Go?

ASD's general fund operating budget for FY25 stands at $638 million, projected to rise to $651 million in FY26, despite declining enrollment of about 39,553 students a drop of over 700 from last year and part of a decade-long trend that's seen Anchorage lose roughly 7,000 students. Per-pupil spending is around $16,100 (even higher when looking at how much we receive in Federal funds), well above the national average of $14,840, yet Alaska ranks 46th in education outcomes. With Federal supplements, we are spending over $23,000 per student with next to last in the nation results. They do not want to mention this part. Why? Because the budget is riddled with inefficiencies, and only a fraction truly reaches the classroom.

District officials claim 60% of the budget goes to direct classroom instruction, with 22% to student supports, 13% to maintenance ($81.1 million in FY26), and just 6% ($33.6 million) to administration. But dig deeper, and the picture isn't so rosy. Nationally, school districts allocate about 60-65% to instruction on average, but in ASD, critics point to bureaucratic bloat: Classroom teachers have dropped from 1,908 in FY25 to 1,603 in FY26, while directors and coordinators have held steady or grown. Some analyses suggest that after factoring in overhead, the effective amount reaching actual teaching and learning could be as low as 25-30% in similar districts, though ASD's official breakdowns don't confirm this highlighting the need for independent audits. Either way, with a projected $83-111 million deficit this year (including transportation), it's clear the money isn't being spent wisely.

Overspending on buildings and infrastructure is a prime example. ASD has a maintenance backlog potentially exceeding $800 million historically, yet pours $81.1 million annually into upkeep without addressing underutilization. From my time working in the schools, I saw this waste firsthand: Submit a work order, and three guys show up just for the evaluation. To install simple shelves in the Alpenglow Cafeteria, another trio arrived for a job one person could handle. This inefficiency multiplies across 90+ facilities, driving up costs without improving student outcomes. Imagine the savings if we streamlined: Even modest cuts could free up millions more than this $12 million levy asks for.

Want the full plan to cut waste and protect classrooms? See Alex’s fiscal responsibility and other priorities on his platform page.

Weak Leadership: Failing to Close Schools and Trim Non-Essentials

The School Board's inability to make hard choices exemplifies weak leadership. Enrollment is down, yet they've repeatedly failed to close underutilized schools. In November 2025, they rejected proposals to shutter Fire Lake and Lake Otis elementaries both under 55% capacity despite district recommendations that could save over $500,000 per school annually. Over the last decade, only five schools have closed, even as student numbers plummet. This dithering keeps empty buildings open, siphoning funds from teachers and kids.

Beyond facilities, curricula and programs stray from core priorities: Phonics-based reading, writing, math, and science. Too much time is wasted on non-essentials, mismanaging teachers' efforts and compromising student safety because true safety includes focused lesson plans on fundamentals that build confident, capable learners. The mayor and board blame "inflation" and stagnant Base Student Allocation (BSA), but they're the architects of this mess. Their overspending inflates local costs, creating a vicious cycle where they demand more taxes to cover deficits they caused. It's not external forces; it's poor stewardship.

The Real Burden on Homeowners: No Relief, Just More Taxes

Unlike the shelved 3% sales tax, which promised 1% property tax relief, this levy hits homeowners square in the wallet with no offsets. At $27.40 per $100,000 of assessed value, the average Anchorage home ($400,000) faces an extra $110 bill. With median property taxes already at $4,865 (1.22% effective rate), this adds insult to injury in a city where housing costs are soaring. And who pays? Homeowners, while many student families rent and escape the direct hit. This erodes the middle class, jacking up rents and making Anchorage less affordable for everyone. We're already overtaxed high property rates plus endless asks yet education quality lags. This levy isn't fair; it's regressive, punishing those building stability in our community.

Why This Levy Shouldn't Be on the Ballot: Time for Accountability, Not Excuses

Putting this on the April 2026 ballot is a cop-out. It's a temporary patch for a chronic $83 million operational shortfall, covering maybe 14% at best, without guarantees it reaches classrooms. No strings attached means it could vanish into overhead, just like past funds. Weak leadership from the mayor and board avoids real reforms: Independent audits for waste, school consolidations, and curriculum refocus on basics.

Instead, they frame it as "for the kids," guilting voters into approving more taxes.

From my military career, I know every operation has fat to trim. In ASD, simple steps like optimizing work orders (no more three-man teams for one-man jobs), auditing vendor contracts, and consolidating admin roles could save far more than $12 million. We can't keep throwing money at problems it's unsustainable and drives the inflation they blame. Reject this levy; demand transformation first.

A Veteran’s Vision: Cutting Waste for Better Schools and Stronger Families

As your School Board candidate, I'll bring my experience fighting waste to Anchorage. We can redirect savings to smaller classes, safe environments, and school choice letting parents pick the best fit, whether charter or public. Local control by teachers and families, not bureaucrats, will boost our rankings and instill pride in students. No more weak decisions; let's build schools that work.

Help push for accountability in ASD

If you want leadership that cuts waste and protects families, support the campaign. Homeowners, parents, educators: This levy hurts you without fixing ASD. Join me to demand better by volunteering, donating, or signing up for updates.

Donate $9.07 Now

Election Reminder - April 7th

Anchorage voters can cast their ballot for Anchorage School Board Seat C by April 7, 2026, via mail-in or in-person voting. We recommend voting early. 

Need Anchorage voter information? Visit the Municipality election info page here.

Set a Reminder to Vote

On April 7, 2026, we have a chance to change the outcomes for our kids, parents, teachers, and community. Put a reminder in your phone or calendar now to vote.

Together, we'll rally the voices needed for change focusing on efficient outreach to engaged voters like you. Share this post and let's get the conversation going.

What are your experiences and ovservations with ASD waste? Drop a comment, send an email, or a direct message on one of my @alexforschools social media channels. I’m here to listen and act.

Alexander Rosales 

Dad | U.S. Air Force Veteran | Educator  Candidate for Anchorage School Board www.alexforschoolboardak.com

Find me on social media at @alexforschools

X | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube