Anchorage Voters Split on School Bond and Education Tax Levy in Early Election Results

Thousands of ballots remain uncounted as city faces budget shortfalls

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:13am

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A vibrant, abstract silkscreen print featuring a repeating grid of school supplies like textbooks, pencils, and an apple, conceptually representing the challenges facing Anchorage's public education system.As Anchorage voters weigh critical school funding measures, the city's education system faces an uncertain future.Anchorage Today

Early election results in Anchorage show voters narrowly divided on a proposed $79 million school bond package and a $12 million special education tax levy, with both measures trailing by slim margins. Election officials have counted ballots from just 17.9% of the city's registered voters so far, with thousands more expected in the coming weeks.

Why it matters

The fate of the school bond and tax levy could have major implications for Anchorage's public education system, which is facing a $90 million budget shortfall. The proposed measures were intended to reduce class sizes, protect student programming, and fund critical school infrastructure projects across the city.

The details

The $79 million school bond package includes nine separate projects at 20 different schools, while the $12 million special education levy would fund 80 additional classroom teachers and three kindergarten paraprofessionals. Voters were also considering several other municipal bond measures, including proposals for roads, parks, public safety, and community facilities.

  • Ballots were counted on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • Election officials had processed ballots from 42,094 voters as of Tuesday evening, representing 17.9% of Anchorage's 235,400 registered voters.
  • Thousands of additional ballots are expected to be counted in the coming weeks.

The players

Suzanne LaFrance

The mayor of Anchorage who introduced the $12 million education tax levy in January, intending to fund the school district to the maximum amount permitted under state law.

Anchorage School District

The public school district facing a $90 million budget shortfall for the upcoming school year, which called the proposed tax levy a 'lifeline' that could ease a portion of its deficit.

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What they’re saying

“The $12 million levy is intended to reduce class sizes and protect student programming. While residents have shared mixed opinions about the proposal, school district officials called the levy a 'lifeline' that could ease a portion of its budget deficit.”

— Suzanne LaFrance, Mayor of Anchorage

What’s next

Election officials will continue counting ballots in the coming weeks, and the final results for the school bond and education tax levy measures may not be known for some time. The Anchorage Assembly and School Board races also remain undecided, with preliminary results showing incumbents in the lead.

The takeaway

The narrow margins in the early results for the school bond and education tax levy highlight the difficult financial challenges facing Anchorage's public education system. The outcome of these measures could have significant implications for class sizes, student programming, and the city's aging school infrastructure.