LaFrance appoints Loren Crawford as Anchorage treasurer, pending Assembly vote Oct. 20

Mayor Suzanne LaFrance has appointed Deputy Municipal Treasurer Loren Crawford to run Anchorage's Treasury Division, effective Oct. 12. The Anchorage Assembly takes up his confirmation as a consent item at its 5 pm meeting Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the Loussac Library Assembly Chambers.

The division bills, collects and audits city taxes, including property, room, tobacco and marijuana taxes. Former treasurer Glenn Cipriano's resume describes a staff of 26, a municipal revenue portfolio of "approximately $800 Million annually" and investment funds of more than $1.4 billion.

The new treasurer takes over weeks before a deadline. Personal property taxes for 2026 are due Nov. 30 and become delinquent Dec. 1. The Municipality applies a 10% late-payment penalty plus interest to unpaid balances.

Cipriano left Treasury to direct the Police and Fire Retirement System, effective Aug. 10, as Alaska News reported Aug. 14. The Assembly confirmed him Aug. 18, with 11 members voting yes and Daniel Volland excused. Two days later, at a Budget and Finance Committee meeting, Crawford introduced himself as acting municipal treasurer. "We've realized 75.8% of our revenue for the year, which is tracking on par," he told members.

Crawford has been deputy treasurer since September 2024. His resume lists serving as trust manager for the MOA Trust Fund, developing the property tax e-billing system and negotiating contracts that saved $61,000. He previously worked for TDX Power, ENSTAR Natural Gas Company, the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility and the state Department of Revenue's Tax Division. He holds a master's in economics from the University of Arizona and is a Certified Treasury Professional.

The Oct. 20 agenda also carries the first public hearing on an executive reorganization that would make the chief fiscal officer, who oversees Treasury, a direct report to the mayor.

The Assembly holds a work session on the appointment Thursday, Oct. 15, at 11:05 am at City Hall. Because the confirmation is a consent item, it is not set for public hearing. Spoken comments come during audience participation at the end of the meeting, after the vote. Written comments can be sent beforehand through the Assembly testimony page.