We are a coalition of Anchorage residents and business leaders that have come together to take action to grow Anchorage’s economy and make Anchorage a better place to live, work and play for all of us. Led by the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), we have met since the summer of 2023 to develop a proposal that would implement a temporary 3% sales tax to reduce property taxes, and invest in quality of life enhancing capital projects.
Our proposal takes inspiration from Oklahoma City, which used a similar initiative to successfully reverse years of economic decline, beginning in the 1990s. After implementing a 1% sales tax to fund dozens of projects such as a new canal and waterfront entertainment district, sports stadium, downtown library, and convention center – not only did voters reauthorize the sales tax multiple times since the program began, but Oklahoma City has seen incredible population and economic growth as a result of this public investment. Our proposal is tailored to the specific needs of Anchorage, and based on economic research conducted by the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development.
Our goal is to take this proposal to Anchorage voters in the 2025 municipal election.
This proposal would implement a temporary 3% sales tax. As currently proposed, the tax revenue would be split as follows:
A variety of expenses would be exempted from the tax, including: groceries, childcare, medical expenses, gasoline, and banking services. The tax would apply only to the first $1,000 of an eligible expense.
Project Anchorage would bring in an estimated $36 million from Anchorage visitors.
Projected
total revenues
Special capital
project revenues
Visitor share
of tax paid
Property tax reduction
(2% below cap)
Savings per $100,000
in taxable value
Savings for a
$450,000 home
