Soldotna residents will head to the polls Tuesday to vote on whether or not the city should borrow $10 million in bonds to construct a field house adjacent to the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. March 5, at Soldotna City Hall.
Project Co-Chair Tim Dillon: “For years our young people have been traveling from Soldotna up to Anchorage on the weekends in order to use indoor facilities. You think about the safety back and forth, and the economic side of things. Well, with some of those people coming down this way paying for gas and food, that is going to dictate how this thing will get paid for.”
The Soldotna City Council approved an ordinance in December 2018 that asks the voters if the city should borrow $10 million in a bond to build a proposed field house and increase the city’s sales tax by a half percent to cover the debt service on the 10-year bond.
The question will go before the voters in a special election on March 5, for a 0.5% increase in the city’s year-round sales tax rate implemented for the 10-year life of the bond. This would increase the city’s sale tax rate from 3% to 3.5%.
Dillon: “I just think it’s something that is much needed, and it’s been on people’s mind for a long time, 15-20 years. I’m excited to see it come to a vote on March 5, and we will see where people want to go.”
The 42,000 square feet field house would include a removable turf field, three-lane elevated walking track and an event room. The field house would sit adjacent and connect to the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
PROPOSITION NO. 2019-A
GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF A FIELD HOUSE AND RELATED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
AT THE SOLDOTNA REGIONAL SPORTS COMPLEX
Shall the City of Soldotna incur debt and issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) for the purpose of paying costs of construction of a Field House containing an indoor turf field and elevated track, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex?
The bonds shall be secured by a pledge of full faith and credit of the City of Soldotna (Ordinance 2018-035)
Yes A “YES” approves the issuance of general obligation bonds.
No A “NO” opposes the issuance general obligation bonds.
