Matanuska-Susitna Borough — Proposition B: Alcoholic beverage sales tax of 5%

What it does

Shall the Matanuska-Susitna Borough exercise the power to levy, collect, and enforce areawide tax of five percent (5%) on the retail sale of alcoholic beverages within the Borough?

A YES vote means

The Mat-Su Borough would levy a 5% areawide tax on retail sales of alcoholic beverages.

A NO vote means

The Mat-Su Borough would not levy this 5% tax on alcoholic beverage sales.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

Assemblymember Bernier sponsored Ordinance 26-062 to give the borough a new revenue source and ease the property tax burden on homeowners as property values rise, according to the borough's information memorandum.

As introduced, the ordinance proposed a tax of up to 10%; the memo says state law and the Alaska Supreme Court's Lagos v. Sitka decision cap an alcohol sales tax at the rate the borough charges on other sales, which is 5% (its bed tax and marijuana tax).

The Assembly amended and adopted the ordinance on June 2, 2026, with Assemblymembers Bowles, Nowers and Gamble opposed, according to the memo's record of Assembly action.

Under state law (AS 29.45.670), a borough sales tax cannot take effect unless voters ratify it, according to the memo.

Put on the ballot by Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly, June 2, 2026 (Ordinance Serial No. 26-062, amended; Assemblymembers Bowles, Nowers and Gamble opposed).

From official source.

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Matanuska-Susitna Borough ballots

• Matanuska-Susitna Borough — Proposition A: School Board terms from 3 to 4 years
• Matanuska-Susitna Borough — Proposition C: $75,000 residential property exemption and 1% areawide sales tax
• Matanuska-Susitna Borough — Proposition D: Areawide road powers

All Matanuska-Susitna Borough races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Matanuska-Susitna Borough mean?

The Mat-Su Borough would levy a 5% areawide tax on retail sales of alcoholic beverages.

What does a NO vote on Matanuska-Susitna Borough mean?

The Mat-Su Borough would not levy this 5% tax on alcoholic beverage sales.

How many votes does Matanuska-Susitna Borough need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Matanuska-Susitna Borough?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.