In the Palmer City Council meeting last night, the council decided to postpone action on the proposed change to the downtown parking, ordinance 25-004, to January 2026, when the study on downtown parking, access, and walkability is completed. We will have more information Thursday morning at 7:30 during Mayor’s Minutes with Palmer Mayor Steve Carrington.
The Mat Su borough is considering a seven-cent per gallon fuel excise tax. And they want borough residents to weigh in on the proposal with an advisory vote in the borough election on Tuesday November 4.
The borough is holding six open houses on the proposal for community dialogue and to answer questions. The first one is set for next Wednesday, September 17th, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Butte Elementary. Open houses are also scheduled for Willow, Wasilla, Palmer, Meadow Lakes and Talkeetna. The full schedule of the open houses and the informational flyer are on the borough website at matsugov.us.
The proposed tax would take effect on January 1, 2026. For the average driver putting about 13,000 miles a year and averaging 27mpg on their car- that’s the current average U.S. vehicle fuel economy and miles driven per year, according to Federal Highway Administration and Environmental Protection Agency data- the tax would add about $33.70 per year per
vehicle.
Borough officials estimate the excise tax could bring in about $5 million a year. The plan is to use the additional revenue for borough-wide road improvement projects—instead of borrowing money via bonding,
Even drivers who don’t pay property taxes here would pay the tax. If that same money were raised through property taxes, the average homeowner would pay about $128 more per year.
The proposal is a wholesale excise tax—so you wouldn’t see it listed as a sales tax at the gas station. It excludes aviation fuel, marine fuel, home heating fuel, and certain diesel sales. If approved, the tax would be in effect for a year and a half – unless renewed.
Since it is an advisory vote, the assembly is not bound by the results. The Assembly will make the final decision in December. They say they’ll weigh public opinion from that advisory vote.
Here are some upcoming events
The Matanuska Community Farmers Market continues on Wednesdays from 4-7pm, through the end of September in the United Protestant Church parking lot in downtown Palmer. October & November markets will be held indoors at the church, but not every week. We’ll let you know which weeks they happen.
Vendors accept SNAP/EBT and can double SNAP dollars by up to $40 at each market. Shoppers can also spend their WIC & Senior Farmers Market Nutrition coupons at the market.
Tomorrow is the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Several ceremonies commemorate the tragedy:
At Fire Station 6-1 the ceremony honoring those fallen on Sept 11, 2001 begins at 5:30 am. Station 6-1 is located in the Central Mat Su Public Safety Building on Swanson Ave in Wasilla.
At Station 5-1 on Terrace Court in Palmer, Boy Scouts will be placing 343 flags, one for each firefighter lost that day.
And at Station 7-3 on Tweed Court in Wasilla, American Legion Post 35 Wasilla remembers the day, and the lives lost beginning at 7 pm.
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That’s it for today and the news on Page Two, Wed. Sept. 10, 2025