Maintenance projects at Kenai Peninsula schools and the replacement of Central Emergency Services Soldotna fire station took a step forward last week, when the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly gave initial approval to the borough’s intake of about $50.5 million for the projects.
Assembly approval comes about four months after Kenai Peninsula voters approved two bond initiatives for the projects.
One allows the borough to incur up to $65.5 million in debt for the purpose of addressing deferred maintenance at Kenai Peninsula Borough School District facilities. The other allows the borough to incur up to $16.5 million in debt for the replacement of Central Emergency Services’ Station 1 in Soldotna.
The borough said last month that it will break up the deferred maintenance bond, which addresses projects at 10 of the district’s 42 schools, into two phases. Through the first phase, the borough will incur about $34 million through bonds issued earlier this year. The remaining funds will be accepted for the second phase at a later date.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Finance Director Brandi Harbaugh wrote in a Feb. 9 memo to assembly members that the second phase of debt will be issued in 2025 or 2026 depending on what projects have been completed and resource availability.
The borough expects to receive money for both projects — about $50.5 million — on Feb. 15, according to Harbaugh’s memo. Assembly members will hold a public hearing and final vote on the legislation during the body’s March 14 meeting.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
