City and Borough of Juneau voters approved an extension of a 3 percent temporary sales tax Tuesday night by a more than 2-to-1 margin.
The tax funds core city functions, including emergency services, snow removal, capital projects, youth activities and road repair.
Tuesday’s vote renewed the tax until 2017. It would have expired next year had the vote gone against it.
“The voters have generally been very supportive of this temporary tax over the years, because they see direct benefits from it,” Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho said.
He also said the Assembly prefers to have this portion of the city’s overall 5-percent sales tax renewed periodically, instead of institutionalizing it in the City Charter, even though the money funds so many city functions.
“For the most part, I think Assembly members have been comfortable over the years that taxpayers have been able to periodically express their views on being taxed,” he said.
He said further discussions on the city’s sales taxes may focus on exempting food purchases, altering the rate of tax during certain periods of the year, or even a higher rate, though Botelho did not advocate or oppose any of those ideas. He also pointed out the city will place the 1-percent sales tax dedicated to capital improvements on the ballot in 2012.
Juneau voters also approved bond measures to purchase a ground-source heating pump for Auke Bay Elementary School, and new artificial turf for the field at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park.
“One is typical Juneau, supporting youth opportunities,” said Juneau School District Superintendent Glenn Gelbrich. “And the other one is just a great investment in an energy efficient system for one of our elementaries.”
The heating pump has a price tag of $1.4 million, more than an oil- or wood-based system. However, the operating costs of a ground source system are much lower.
New artificial turf will run $1.2 million to replace the existing turf, which is worn in spots and was vandalized earlier this year. Gelbrich said the costs of maintaining artificial turf are much lower than the costs of keeping up with other surfaces.
One measure Juneau voters defeated was a proposal to charge a tax of 15 cents on any plastic bag provided by certain retailers. Nearly 70 percent of ballots came back marked “no” on that measure. If passed, the measure would have only applied to retailers that generate more than $15 million in revenue, such as Fred Meyer or Walmart.
• Contact Deputy Managing Editor Charles Ward at 523-2266 or at charles.ward@juneauempire.com.
Comments (31)
Add commentThis is incorrect. The city
This is incorrect. The city coffers are overflowing with money. If that was not the case, then the city wouldn't of been wasting money on a bronze statue and the like.
Sync
The bronze statue was voted on and it was a NO. It's now being paid for by donations/fund raising, etc....
Good point.
Good point.
For some reason though, I am
For some reason though, I am remembering someone on here making a comment that the city still made a rather sizable donation. I may be wrong, but ...
Now that we have voted down
Now that we have voted down that bit of foolishness called a bag tax, perhaps we can get down to doing something effective about eliminating those bags from the waste stream. There are several things that can easily be done by every shopper in Juneau.
Ask for paper bags. Every grocer in Juneau has them on hand and will be happy to use them if you ask.
Encourage your grocer to volunteer to give up the plastic bags. He will be receptive to this if he thinks that he will have a level playing field and sees that his competition is doing likewise.
Would be nice if CBJ operated
Would be nice if CBJ operated with in their budget instead of trying (and succeeding) in getting hand outs (3% temp tax) from the citizens ...
... just saying ...
Sales Tax
Now is the time to do some serious planning on getting this thing taken off of grocery items, the city water bill.
I can not believe that the
I can not believe that the citizens would vote to keep the 3% sales tax when everyone keeps complaining of financial difficulties. I voted no and will next time too. the poles need to be open longer I know of several people that could not vote because they work 2 or more jobs.
I guess people find having
I guess people find having public services available to them more convenient than saving the extra $1 on a $20 purchase.
Whoops, stupid math on my
Whoops, stupid math on my part. It's $0.60 for every $20. I was using the full 5%.
I think that before we tax
I think that before we tax the citizenry, we should do everything else possible. Current salaries for the Bothelho and Swope are rediculous. Drop pay. Same for School district management. Quit trying to have the best looking things. I grew up playing on grass. I didnt nees astroturf. In fact sometimes, grass was a luxury. Is astroturf better? Absolutely, but when we have millions of dollars in deficit looming ahead? We dont need astroturf. Do we need a million dollar ballpark for every softball player in town? We hear, but its a ballpark for the kids! Until its built, then the little league gets shoved out to Auke Rec and all the half drunk adults who want to relive their glory days move in until they get injured. How many softball fields do we need? And we have enough, and they are good enough. We have trails all over the place. Not every trail in Juneau needs to be six feet wide and paved. Whats next, a chair lift up McGinnis for handicapped accessibility? These are all nice things, but when you are facing going broke, you need to trim. Keep essential services, but trim the fat. And there is lots of fat in Juneau to be trimmed.
Taxes
Here's the biggest difference between Democrats, republipukes and tea partiers:
-Democrats want LOW taxes.
-Republipukes want NO taxes, especially on the rich (which they call "job creators" instead of "cash hoarders").
-Tea partypukes want NO taxes under any circumstances for anything, even for streets, schools or police, and the free market will make these things appear magically if you wish hard enough.
$1.2 million
That price tag for artificial grass sounds grossly suspicious to me.
$1.2 million????
Yes, I know the state is paying a chunk of that...
But $1.2 MILLION????
Who are we buying that from? NASA?
Poles open longer???
thislittlepiggie: There are alternate was to vote other than in person.
The Polish are not well known
The Polish are not well known for keeping long hours I guess.
Also, I've seen polling stations open for the past week, at least.
I do not believe these comments about the local sales taxes
Are we in the dark ages? I will always vote to extend the temporary sales tax; because, contrary to popular opinion, in this town these taxes overall promote the general health and welfare of all citizens. They promote services and benefits that are beneficial to all the citizenry and not just a certain group. It is a type of consumption tax. That said, I would vote to do away with the senior citizen sales tax exemption and instead exempt certain groceries, certain utilities, and heating fuel for everyone. Perhaps the place to start in the the grocery arena are those groceries that are allowed for "food stamp" cards. Anyone who has children should appreciate these sales tax "contributions."
Maybe do away with the old
Maybe do away with the old codger exemptions, dont tax food, elec, heating oil. Tax all tourist purchases no matter how big, adjust the mil rate and actually apply it to everyone - the university, state property, churches, lots owned by developers, etc all pay the same rate as everyone else. Always thought it interesting that Grant can own 80 acres and pay 60K but my house is 350K. Even Steven.
the sales tax will always pass
Because the old farts vote the most and they are tax exempt. They also know if it fails then the city will just raise the mill rate on property taxes and they will have to pay up.
Taxes needed
3% sales tax is nothing. I come from Washington were it was just under 10%. I wonder how many of those who hate the tax smoke cigarettes, line up for $5 mochas every morning... Its going to a good cause we can see and measure. Now if we could just do something about Mt. Garbage...
There is nothing so perminant
as a "temporary" tax
arrrggg
voter apathy in this town is disgusting excuses & aholes both usually stink
1034 didj jomac
I think seniors are exempt from property tax too
Didj agreed perhaps a ballot initiative for the next election cycle is in order, I'll be happy to collect signatures. In fact I think I'll call the city clerks office & get the 411.
jomac what's to be said? Behind every silver lining there's a dark cloud, but why does it always look like you?
Open note to Jo
All the while you are inventing cute names to call those who disagree with you, kindly keep in mind that the last three letters in Democrat are "RAT" any relevance there?? Just asking.
Reply to Alaskabobc
'Democrat' comes from a Greek word meaning "rule of the people," and 'Republican' comes from a Roman word that means "of or pertaining to the republic." America is a democratic republic. That's why Erica is in there.
If you've walked on a
If you've walked on a sidewalk, or driven on our roads, or even talked to a police officer for that matter, that's what our 3% is going towards. For such an insignificant amount, I'm glad to pay the toll in order to ensure a clean town with public assets ready when I need them.
As for the bag tax, all you liberal hippies need to move back down to Oregon and California. As far as pollution goes, Juneau is only responsible for 0.00000013452 (repeating) percent of pollution towards the world pollution "crisis."
And in this day and age, Dems want socialism, not "low taxes." They think that the rich don't already pay enough in taxes and need to help their fellow people who are too lazy to even get a job in the first place.
Republicans (a faction that actually deserves to have their name spelled out) want to keep things equal across the board.
If you're broke and needy, its not the Gov's fault. Its your fault for wanting to further the handout society we're living in today.
Kpawsuh obviously can't even use proper grammar and that's why he grew up playing on grass fields. In Juneau, the adults, children and elders need all the access to extracurricular activities they can get. Perhaps you would be better suited in Detroit where you can go roll a hula-hoop down the road for fun?
Bottom line is that we live in a very nice town surrounded by (mostly) nice people, which most of the nation doesn't even have the privilege of these days. Even if I didn't believe in the sales tax, I would still vote for it simply to spite those of you who think your case of beer or hemp clothing is more important than helping the city in anyway we can.
@DapSL8
You don't sound very nice at all...
Vote no, then sign up
The city should make the sales tax optional for residents. The people who do not wish to pay, will simply become ineligible for all city services. Please stay off our streets. Do not call our police or fire departments when you are in trouble. Do not put your children in our schools. Do not attempt to use our hospital, pools, libraries, ski resort, ice rink, parks or public transit. Get your own water and deal with your own waste. Be careful what you wish for.
@ArtVandelay
I'l bet you think 9/11 was a conspiracy too, don't you? Ignorance is not bliss. And judging by the intelligence of your post you're a typical nay-sayer and have not even the slightest shred of support to back up something which you might call an argument. U mad bro?