The Carlson Center is proposed to go under Fairbanks North Star Borough management with expanded services, such as an indoor play area, pickle ball and programming for teenagers, in a new budget proposed by Mayor Bryce Ward, who also wants to reduce property taxes by 0.92 of a mill.
Officials outlined the Carlson Center change on Wednesday at a news conference announcing a new budget proposal for the borough with remarks by the mayor about the State of the Borough. The assembly will be briefed on the spending plan at its regular meeting today.
Ward is looking to add $1 million in borough spending overall, for a total of $173.4 million, excluding service areas and grants, over what was approved for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.
Mahla Strohmaier, executive director of the Tanana Valley State Fair Association, said she is feeling hopeful about hosting a fair in 2021 in part due to ongoing COVID-19 vaccinations.