What you need to know:
- Hoping to vote in the upcoming city elections but not sure you live within the boundaries of one of Mat-Su’s three cities? Due to confusing ZIP codes and addresses, many residents struggle to determine whether they live within city limits.
- You can find out if you live within city limits by checking your address on Google Maps, looking up your property record, or checking city voter precinct maps to see if they include your address.
- City elections in Houston, Palmer, and Wasilla will be held on Oct. 1, 2024.
For many residents of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, determining whether they live in one of the area’s three cities and can vote in city elections can be confusing.
While most residents have a Wasilla or Palmer mailing address, only a small portion of the Mat-Su Borough’s 25,260 square miles lies within city limits. Together, Wasilla, Houston and Palmer cover only 35.9 square miles, with Houston being the largest of the three.
Living in one of the cities comes with some additional perks. For example, residents of Wasilla and Palmer have city water and sewer services. However, they also pay additional taxes for these services. While the borough does not have a sales tax, Wasilla, Palmer and Houston do.