From the Mayor
Welcome to the North Slope Borough, United States’ farthest north municipal government. Our borough encompasses an area of approximately 94,000 square miles in northern Alaska, north of the Arctic Circle. It extends 650 miles east from Point Hope on the Chukchi Sea to the Canadian Border, and 225 miles south from Point Barrow, the most northern point in the State of Alaska. Prudhoe Bay, the largest oil field in the United States, is located in the northeastern portion of the Borough. It is also the origination point of the 800 mile trans-Alaskan pipeline which terminates at the city of Valdez on Prince William Sound.
Most of the Borough’s nearly 10,000 permanent residents live in eight communities: Anaktuvuk Pass, Atqasuk, Kaktovik, Nuiqsut, Point Hope, Point Lay, Utqiagvik, and Wainwright. Utqiagvik serves as the Borough seat of government. Another 4,000 people who are employed in North Slope oil fields are counted as residents because they work at least half of the calendar year in the oil and gas fields of Prudhoe Bay.
The North Slope Borough was created by an election in 1972 and officially incorporated on July 2, 1972. On April 30, 1974, the North Slope Borough adopted its Home Rule Charter which allows it to exercise any legal governmental power in addition to its mandatory powers of taxation, property assessment, education, and planning and zoning services. The legislative power of the Borough is vested in an eleven member Assembly, elected to staggered three-year terms. The Borough’s executive and administrative powers are vested in a Mayor, limited to two consecutive three-year terms.
After 40+ years of home rule, we are proud of what we have accomplished and what we can do for our future generations. As Mayor of the North Slope Borough, I am committed to continued growth and prosperity for North Slope residents and through the age old tradition of working together, we will ensure a good future for our children and grandchildren. We welcome and challenge each of you to support and join us in our continued journey as we seek to support tribal and city governments, our youth and elders, excellence in educational opportunities, continued economic development in all of our communities and a process that ensures that our children are well cared for in our families and communities.
