State of the city: Anchorage.

• Author: Cutler, Debbie
• Position: From the Editor - Economic development

THE GOOD NEWS

With 20 years of consecutive growth behind us, Mayor Mark Begich said all is well at his annual State of the City address, held this year in late July at the Egan Center as part of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce's Make it Monday forum.

By well, he meant 9,000 new jobs added to the city in five years. By well, he meant a building boom like we haven't seen since Project '80s. By well, he meant a balanced budget.

With the federal government facing a $482 billion deficit next year, it's good to know all is rosy on the home front. According to a report put out by the Begich Administration, "Anchorage's city budget is more stable and diversified, city bond ratings have been upgraded and the percentage of property taxes needed for city services has dropped over the past five years."

THE BAD NEWS

The Anchorage Economic Development Corp.'s report, held in late July at the Hotel Caption Cook, is less optimistic. Its approach was a three-year economic outlook for Anchorage.

They expect population to grow over the next three years, but at a slower pace than in the past. Employment growth will also be static over the next few years, but will return to normal averages of about 2 percent growth in 2010 and 2011.

Personal income growth also is expected to slow and commercial construction has declined, but will level out over the next few years.

In addition, passenger and freight volume through Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is declining, but expected, like other...