Policy

Privacy Policy

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough is committed to protecting the privacy of any personal information you may provide when visiting our website. Part of that commitment is to explain what information may be collected and why, how it will be used, and who may have access to it.

This Privacy Policy applies to interactions with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough MSB Website, and computerized services maintained by the Borough. For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, unless otherwise noted, all references to MSB website include https://matsugov.us, https://matsu.gov and any related subdomains (ex. https://transparency.matsu.gov). It does not apply to any other website. By using the MSB website, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

MSB’s Website may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. The Borough also uses third party services that collect personal information, including personally identifiable information and payment information. These third-party services are covered by their own privacy policies. Visitors should review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough makes no representations regarding third party use of personal information.

Collection of your Personal Information

When you visit the MSB Website, you do so anonymously – there is no need to tell us who you are. MSB does not collect anonymous demographic information.

We do not collect any personal information about visitors to the MSB’s website unless you voluntarily provide it to us. However, you may be required to provide certain personal information to us when you elect to use certain services offered by the Borough in the form of email, online forms, or applications. These activities may include:

(a) registering for an account;
(b) signing up for services from selected third parties;
(c) sending us an email message;
(d) submitting your credit card or other payment information when paying for services;
(e) participating in a voluntary application or form.

If visitors choose not to disclose their personal information in these activities, their choices will in no way affect the ability to use any other areas of the MSB website.

Additionally, we use first and third-party cookies for the operation of our website. You can control cookies in your browser settings and, where offered, via our cookie banner. Essential cookies cannot be disabled because the site will not function properly without them. For Analytics cookies, we request your consent before use and honor your choices.

See our Cookie Policy for details.

Authentication and Accounts

If you create an account or sign in, we use Auth.js/NextAuth to manage your session. This sets secure, HttpOnly cookies on our domain to keep you signed in and to protect the sign‑in flow (e.g., CSRF, PKCE). We do not store your password. If you choose a third‑party sign‑in provider (e.g., Google or Microsoft), that provider may set its own cookies on its domains during sign‑in. See our Cookie Policy for cookie names and durations.

Draft/Preview Mode (Editors)

When editors preview unpublished content, Next.js sets short‑lived cookies to enable preview mode. These cookies are essential for site administration and are only present while preview is active.

Maps and Geospatial Services

Our mapping features use the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript. For public map resources, the SDK may cache configuration and tokens in your browser storage. If you access secured Esri resources (for organization‑only content), Esri may set cookies on its domains to manage your session; the SDK stores tokens client‑side to enable those features. See our Cookie Policy for details.

Search

Site search uses Typesense with InstantSearch UI components. Search queries are processed by our search service; the UI components do not set cookies by default.

Analytics (if enabled)

We may use Crazy Egg to understand how our website is used (e.g., which pages are popular, how users navigate). Crazy Egg sets first‑party cookies on our domain to provide heatmaps and performance insights. We only load Crazy Egg with your consent, and we do not use advertising cookies. See our Cookie Policy for cookie names and durations.

Your Choices

You can control cookies in your browser settings and, where offered, via our cookie banner. Essential cookies cannot be disabled because the site will not function properly without them (for example, authentication and editor preview). For Analytics cookies, we request your consent before use and honor your choices.

Sharing Information with Third Parties

MSB does not sell, rent or lease information gathered from the use of its website to third parties.

MSB may share data with third party services to help perform statistical analysis, send you email, sms notifications, or postal mail notifications, and provide Borough services.

As a government entity the MSB is required to maintain Public Records. Most of visitors’ communications with the MSB are considered part of the public record and may be subject to disclosure in accordance with AS 40.25.110 – 40.25.120. Visitors’ communications with the MSB through its website may also be used to

(a) comply with legal process served on MSB or the site;
(b) protect and defend the rights or property of MSB;
(c) act under exigent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of MSB, or the public.

Security of your Personal Information

MSB has commercially appropriate security measures in place to protect against the loss, unauthorized access, or alteration of information that has been collected from visitors.

Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet or any wireless network can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, while we strive to protect your personal information, you acknowledge that:

(a) There are security and privacy limitations inherent to the Internet which are beyond our control; and
(b) Security, integrity, and privacy of any and all information and data exchanged between you and us through this Site cannot be guaranteed.

Children Under Thirteen

MSB collects personally identifiable information about children under the age of thirteen for registration in Swim Lessons, and Public Service Volunteering.

We provide information about our personal data practices for children on our home page and wherever we knowingly collect personal data from children on our application. If you are under the age of thirteen, you must ask a parent or guardian for permission to use this application. If you are a parent and you have questions regarding our data collection practices, please contact us using the information provided at the end of this Privacy Policy.

Communications

From time to time, MSB may contact you for the purpose of providing announcements, promotional offers, alerts, confirmations, surveys, and/or other general communication. If you would like to stop receiving those communications from MSB, you may opt out by following the opt‑out instructions in the message.

External Data Storage Sites

We may store your data on servers provided by third party hosting vendors with whom we have contracted.

Changes to this Statement

MSB reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you about significant changes in the way we treat personal information by placing a prominent notice on our application and/or by updating this Privacy Policy. Your continued use of the application and/or Services available after such modifications will constitute your:

(a) acknowledgment of the modified Privacy Policy; and
(b) agreement to abide and be bound by that Policy.

Contact Information

MSB welcomes your questions or comments regarding this Privacy Policy.

If you believe that MSB has not adhered to this Statement, please contact MSB at:

Matanuska-Susitna Borough
350 E. Dahlia Ave.
Palmer, Alaska 99645

Email Address: service.desk@matsugov.us
Telephone number: 907.861.8553