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The City and Borough of Juneau Finance Committee heard requests for an additional $28 million to fund projects from the city’s 1 percent sales tax on Monday. This brings the total requests to around $60 million.
The 1 percent tax is expected to bring in approximately $44.8 million over five years.
Dimond Park Library — $4.7 million
A new library in the Mendenhall Valley has been planned since 1983. Already the city library has collected 66 percent of the $14 million total cost of the project, including $7 million in state funding and $1 million from Friends of the Library and $300,000 from the Library Endowment Fund.
The current facility is rented. Rent for the facility is expected to cost more than books, computer subscriptions, online resources and supplies for all of Juneau’s libraries, according to the library presentation.
The library’s $7 million state grant is contingent on the city’s funding commitment, according to a library staff report.
Child Adolescent Mental Health Unit — $5 million
Bartlett Regional Hospital is requesting $5 million in city sales tax funds to build a new mental health unit for state and local youth aged 5 to 17. The total project is expected to cost $23 million —$10 million from Bartlett and another $8 million from government and grant sources, said Laurie Morton, Bartlett board member. She said the unit would be financially self-supporting.
The facility would allow Juneau youth to be treated near home.
The new unit would house 12 beds — six for Southeast residents and two beds to take overflow from Juneau Youth Services. It would also have therapy areas, a learning center, dining area and kitchen.
The unit is designed to help youth with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression, autistic spectrum disorders with behavioral disturbance, eating disorders, impulse control disorders and chemical dependency, according to Bartlett’s written request.
Morton testified to the committee that Bartlett expects to break ground in 2014.
Staff would be recruited before the facility opened. Bartlett expects to hire two psychiatrists with 18 new jobs overall with a $1.5 million annual payroll.
Juneau International Airport — $10 million
The Juneau International Airport is seeking a total of $10 million for renovations and new facilities.
The request includes $3.1 million for construction of a new snow removal and equipment building. The money would allow the airport to take advantage of a $10 million federal match. The project is expected to extend the lifespan of heavy equipment by reducing exposure.
An additional $6.9 million would go to continue work on the airport terminal renovation, one of the city’s older facilities.
“We have now come to the areas of the building that cannot be renovated and needs to be rebuilt,” according to the written request from Airport Manager Jeannie Johnson.
Performing Arts and Culture Center — $5 million
The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council is looking for $5 million for a new performing arts center in Juneau. The current proposed $14.48 million facility compares to a $44 million proposal from 2005.
“We need high-quality performance space,” JAHC staff said during committee testimony. “Space in Juneau now is mostly tied up, dedicated to various specific groups.” Even with high school venues, JAHC has difficulty finding venue space, staff said.
The site plan calls for two mid-sized theaters, one with 220 seats and the other with 330. Two theaters allows for greater flexibility, according to JAHC’s written request.
The facility would measure 19,000 square feet.
JAHC plans to start construction on its new facility in 2014.
Walter Soboleff Center — $3 million.
Sealaska Heritage Institute is asking for $3 million in sales tax funds for its proposed Walter Soboleff Center.
“(The) Center will give community members a chance to better understand Native cultures,” according to SHI’s written request.
The three-story, 30,000 square-foot facility is expected to cost $20 million. Sealaska plans to chip in $1 million, with the rest coming from state and federal funds and individual and foundation giving. SHI is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.
SHI expects to supply 30 full-time, permanent jobs with the new facility and offer retail space for 100 Native artists, according to its request.
The Finance Committee plans to begin awarding funds at its next meeting, tentatively scheduled for July 5.
For more information visit goo.gl/2vZOd.
• Contact reporter Russell Stigall at 523-2276 or at russell.stigall@juneauempire.com.
Comments (39)
Add commentDump the 1% !
It's a tax levy without a cause. The assembly is taking bids for projects to best justify the renewal of this temporary sales tax. The scramble is on for reasons to sell the voters on revenue that CBJ has become addicted to.
My thoughts
Library - How relevant are libraries these days? With the whole world going digital, looking 10-20 years into the future, do we really need brick & mortar libraries? Where does the future take libraries?
Childrens Mental Health Unit - From what I understand, this is a huge need in Juneau. If you have an autistic child, support services in Juneau are seriously lacking. If the need is there, this should be a priority over the wants on the list.
Airport - Wow, this has been a black hole for money. Seems like every year they're asking for another big wad. I get that it's a key facility for the community, but if part of the building has reached the end of its life, dontcha think they could have started at that end before prettying up the rest of it?
Performing Arts Center - Yeah, there's a deficiency out there. A nice to have. Taxpayers shouldn't foot the whole bill for this though.
Soboleff Center - I don't see why taxpayers should be funding this. It's targeted to serve a niche constituency. But I look forward to seeing it completed.
Uhh .. we've had the
Uhh .. we've had the temporary 2% sales tax for years (technically 2 1% temporary tax).
When are we getting rid of them? Interesting ...
Budget
CBJ keeps running in the red. Credit rating going down. What can we spend money on so we do not need to balance our budget?
keep the 1%
only if or when groceries & heating fuels (electric utility as well) is exempted from the total 5%.
So the only project worth funding serves your personal need?
Pretty self serving Latitude. If it was a "huge" need in Juneau why no beds dedicated for Juneau only? Rather six for Southeast, the other six are for up north overflow. Bartlett CEO Shawn Morrow gives a presentation to the Chamber 10/27/2011 that gives a much more detailed presentation about the facility. https://vimeo.com/31234684
How about using it to feed my
How about using it to feed my kids and pay my bills? I feel I would be a much better recipient of my money than anything the city does. Ditch the tax...
fluetsch
Just to clarify, of the list presented, the Childrens Health Unit is my top priority and the Soboleff Center is the bottom.
Your opinion may differ. But you're not on the Assembly, are you? So you get to hang here with me in the peanut gallery. Bummer, ain't it?
Centennial Hall?
I thought Centennial Hall improvement/renovation was on this list?
thoughts...
What Latitude58 said. Pretty much nailed my thoughts on everything.
I also agree with Kpaw, ditch the taxes already. And though I will vote to remove them, I doubt that will happen.
Regarding the Walter Soboleff Center, I would love to see it but I do have a question. Who will be running it? Will it be SeaAlaska? Who will take any profits from it? Will it be SeaAlaska?
I really want to see this happen, but I am curious about taxpayer dollars being spent for its construction.
spare change?
44.8 million is approximately $3445 per household.
My personal thoughts
We don't need another library! We have plenty, and as Latitude stated, with the internet, Kindles and Nooks it's unnecessary. Take this one out of consideration.
The childrens mental health unit, I can see being very important and would put that on the top of the list.
Airport? This is a tough one for me because I see the need to improve and upgrade, but the upgrades/improvements they have made are good, but some unnecessary. So, I'm not sure how I feel about this one.
Performing Arts Center "The current proposed $14.48 million facility compares to a $44 million proposal from 2005." WHAT? Curious about difference there....but a new venue would be nice for our community.
Soboleff center, Sealaska should pony up more funding for this since it's their baby. "SHI expects to supply 30 full-time, permanent jobs with the new facility and offer retail space for 100 Native artists, according to its request." 30 jobs that will be native preference. If this is a Sealaska thing they need to pay for it and not rely so much on State and Federal funding.
This is for the voters to decide Latitude
So my vote counts as much as anyone elses.
why the city?
why does the city get to hear proposals on how to spend our money. I know they think its theirs but it was temporary for a specific purpose, that purpose no longer exists, the need has been met. However if they come up with another great idea that needs funded then propose that, TO US, don't go looking for ways to spend our money when we haven't agreed to anything. if you don't have a specific purpose then there is no need for the tax, and this article pretty much indicates you don't have a use for it so I for one will help solve that problem and vote not to renew that 1% that way all you city folks sitting around getting paid to listen to way to spend our money can actually do work for yours.
Performing Arts Center
The idea of a dedicated Performing Arts Center is not terrible, as stage space with proper seating and sight lines can bring a multitude of performers to town, or be used as a community performance space. It serves many, not just a few.
I imagine many of you have favorite musical artists or an appreciation for stage shows, but it seems difficult to get acts here in town because the JACC simply does not have the proper staging equipment required by most touring shows.
Two theaters provides flexibility, but it cuts down on your seating capacity. I think one facility that can hit the magic number of 500 seats would be ideal. At that number of seats, you'd be surprised how many classic and current acts would seriously consider a stop here.
Of course, should the taxpayers foot the bill on all of it - I'm not sure we should - but you would have to then find private investors or get grants and donations to complete the project.
Children's unit IS a vital need
Do you know what your options are if your 14yo is suicidal? What can you do when your 8 yo is in a full manic phase? Cutting compulsion? Hearing voices?
Try and manage at home or ship them out of town. Bartlett won't take them. Jami does not service them. JYS has very limited resources.
I think the budget needs to be looked at more closely, for 23 million I would expect more than 12 beds. Unless that is including operation budget for 10 years. Also there needs to be resources and supports for families. Siblings are the ones in dire need of something, everyone seems to forget about them in the crisis. I know because I have caught myself more than once doing that.
That is an investment in our community worth making.
Spend:
Spend, and more spending. How about taking care of what we have? Roads come to mind. Everyone with their hand in the pot, where is the end of the line so I can jump in. I agree with you on this one Islandhopper.
Budget shortfall
Don't we have a 10 million dollar budget shortfall? Why don't we pay that off?
Budget Process
Our tax dollars, including the tax levied on cruise passengers, is poorly planned. The city appears to be reactive to spending these dollars, rather than having a planning process in place. I can see the need for a public library back in 1983, but that plan has got to be obsolete by now. If that library wasn't an important project 20 years ago, what makes it relevant today?
City staff could put together a report on capital projects, and prioritize them by cost/benefit to the citizens, and then present to the assembly and the public.
Sealaska Foot the Bill
Soboleff center, Sealaska should pony up more funding for this since it's their baby.
If CBJ is going to fund the
If CBJ is going to fund the building of a new performance center, it should be made part of the Centennial Hall upgrade/renovation/remodel. That way, when the new space is built with CBJ money, the CBJ can rent that space to recover some of the money we all contributed to build it, rather than have that money go to a facility that is competing with Centennial Hall.
diverse community
All projects here would make Juneau a better place for all of us, but we must look at which ones are a priority for Juneau and bring the greatest bang for the buck.
Airport- There seemed to be a desire to beautify the airport so that it is a place that the "Juneau community wants to go and hang out rather than just pass through." I dont share this vision. I go to the airport for a flight, not for a date. Fund the maintenance shed, not terminal beautification.
Arts Center - Great idea but no funding dedicated yet. Get 50% of funds then lets talk.
The Walter Soboleff Center. Has raised 50% of funds. A one-time $3 million will also add an additional $17 million in investment-- a great ROI from an investment standpoint, with social, cultural, and many other benefits too. It will add 10 jobs to the community and those people will buy houses, shop at stores, and eat at resturaunts. It will add to the diversity of Juneau by instilling pride in the Native cultures that once flourished here and further education the community and visitors alike. Although some wish to continue to suppress the language and culture, diversity is important to all people.
Bartlett- This will only add to the operating expenses and will further increase their budget request each year. This is not a one time request, this is a request to construct a facility that will operate at a loss and be further subsidized by taxpayers.
Library- Facts have proven that libraries increase knowledge and further education of a society or community overall.
david s
David S- your figure excludes 1 million visitors. $3445 per household is grossly overstated. I would put the figure at $200 a year at best.
So this meeting had a number
So this meeting had a number of groups asking for a combined total of $28m. The meeting last week asked for a total of about $30m, and I think there's still another meeting to come. I don't know if any of you were at last week's meeting, but the Mayor kept asking the people presenting their particular project to the committee, what they would do if they only got half of what they were asking for. It's going to be interesting to see how this all washes out in the end.
A couple of thoughts
Library - I love the library. And I like it being at Mendenhall Mall. The article says "Rent for the facility is expected to cost more than books, computer subscriptions, online resources and supplies for all of Juneau’s libraries" but it fails to note how much this new building will cost to operate after it's built. There's no such thing as a free building. You can pay for the space, parking lot, bathroom facilities, etc through rent or through building and paying to operate it yourself. I don't think this is a needed project.
Performing Arts Center - where is this facility planned to be built? I like the idea of having more performance space, but not sure of its priority for tax dollars.
I totally agree with the
I totally agree with the whole stop taxing food and heating oil arguement too.
Echo what
Latitude and Wren said.
I also agree that if the city is running in the red, then why is the 1% being spent on extras? It's nice to have, but necessities should come first, or the 1% should go away.
I also have an additional question about the Soboleff center. It sounds very much as if this center will only be available for bookings for Native uses. If an entity gains city funds to operate, shouldn't it be open for booking by EVERYONE in the city?
Jerkhead - the JACC is proposing to use their current location and expand into the small section of parking between them and Centennial hall. At some point, shouldn't that parking area be 2 stories? Any event at Centennial fills it to capacity easily.
Opportunity for community input
At the risk of being run out of town on a rail (or the equivalent virulent reponses on this board), it seems to me that this process of allowing community groups the chance to advocate for their project is, indeed, part of a financial planning process. In fact, I wonder if one of the above posters attended this meeting and advocated for paying off debt with the 1% temporary tax. No? Why not? It's a great idea.
It's important to hear from the community about what is important to them so city planners are able to make informed decisions when it comes to allocating resources. This is a way of doing that. And the peanut gallery (as lat stated) weighs in on these message boards. I wonder which one is more effective (that's rhetorical, btw).
I think if you really want to have no new projects (library, youth mental health facility, etc) and no upkeep of existing facilities (airport), then put together your own group and go to the next meeting. Is there anything preventing the City from putting on the ballot: This 1% temporary tax will be used to make up the budget shortfall? If not, head on down to City Hall.
Our household has pledged to vote no on all new proposals until the City deals with affordable housing (except for school maintenance). If one of these projects makes it on the ballot and looks like it will increase housing availability, we'll vote for it. Otherwise, we're a no.
Off the wall
As I look at the article and comments, I came up with another "off the wall" "you must be from outer space" kind of speculation.
Right now people seem to be saying, "OK we will continue the 1% of our sales tax, let's talk about how to spend it."
What if thing were all turned around and we as voters said:
"OK, we will cancel 1% of the sales tax. When we have enough justification to restore or add on another 1% to our sales tax, we will do so. Meanwhile, we will have a 4% or 2% sales tax, or a seasonal sales tax."
Then people could line up and testify and convince voters to add 1% to the sales tax.
Agree WM...
The planning needs to come first to identify need and cost/benefit. The city staff can compile all the data and present it to the citizens to vote. Capital improvements to existing city owned infrastructure would logically be at the top of the list.