Anchorage ordinance would tie candidate residency checks to property tax exemptions

East Anchorage Assembly Member George Martinez has proposed an ordinance that would require candidates for mayor, Assembly and school board to disclose whether they claimed a residential property tax exemption during their required residency period, at their current address or any prior one. The Assembly read the measure Oct. 20 and will hold a public hearing on it Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Anchorage's residential exemption applies to a qualified owner's primary residence, according to the municipality. The ordinance says an exemption claimed at an address different from the one on a candidate's declaration of candidacy may be relevant to whether the candidate meets the residency requirement.

Martinez's memo says candidates have, from time to time, listed a residence on their declaration that differed from their tax exemption address. Under the proposal, such a mismatch is meant to trigger a mandatory residency review by the municipal clerk, with a chance for the candidate to reconcile the records.

If the candidate does not meet the residency requirement, the clerk could use existing authority to disqualify them. A disqualified candidate may request a hearing, which must be held within five days.

"The rationale is simply to ensure consistent residency verification and property-tax accountability without creating additional qualifications for office," Martinez wrote.

Candidates would also list the date they established residency, the addresses and parcel numbers of prior homes where they claimed an exemption, and whether their home is or was owned by an entity receiving a tax exemption for it, such as a nonprofit religious, charitable or educational group, along with the exemption type.

The clerk would refer disclosed exemptions to the municipal assessor. When a candidate lives on exempt property owned by an organization, the assessor would have to promptly verify that the candidate's occupancy and use fit the exemption and report back to the clerk. The memo says a separate exemption review should not delay the clerk's qualification decision. A candidate who fails to disclose would be referred to the municipal attorney and the assessor.

Residency duration rules would not change: two years in Anchorage for mayor, one year in the district for Assembly and 30 days for school board. Elected members of service area boards would be exempt from the new disclosure. The ordinance would take effect immediately if the Assembly passes it.

Residents can testify at the hearing in person or by phone, or submit written comment through the Assembly's testimony page.