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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 commentForgive me, Wally, but isn't
Forgive me, Wally, but isn't that what they're doing? People are getting their proposals out to the public via the Finance Committee in an effort to convince the City and then the voters to support extending the 1% sales tax for X,Y,Z projects. If the voters do not feel any or even one of the projects is worthy, than they will vote no and the 1% tax will not be extended.
I may have misunderstood your comment - perhaps you can clarify if I did. Thanks.
My Request For the 1%...
is to pay my own bills and expenses!!! Ditch the "temporary" tax!!!
I don't care what is proposed, my proposal to help pay my bills with the 1% is the best option to me. I'll be voting NO!!!
My $0.02
If it is a building, it should be bonded, not paid with sales tax.
Anything dealing with travelers should be paid with the head tax. If that is not enough to cover the airport, than an additonal fee on the users of the airport: ie passengers.
The WS building for Sealaska shareholders should also be able to get head tax money.
The performing arts center should also be able to get head tax funding.
If this does go on the ballot, each item should be listed as a "yes" or "no" line item. Not all or none as they have been in the past.
Well...
This money should go to two things in my opinion.
1. Mental health unit
2. Funding school teachers preventing upcoming layoffs
If they put these on the top of the list I would consider voting for the tax.
I'm with you, Wren
But I tend to agree with El_Boorba too. Sales taxes are fairly regressive, while property taxes hit the money class a bit more fairly. And I say that as a property owner.
If I understand this process correctly, the Assembly will choose the projects that go on the ballot for the tax extension. Is that right?
Boorba, I'm trying to
Boorba, I'm trying to understand why you think the proposed Sealaska project and the performing arts center deserve passenger fee funds. Federal law requires that any project funded with these fees must address both the “safety and accessibility” of cruise ship passengers.
frak that
both projects make juneau a better tourist destination.
That was my thought too el_boorba
Whatever will make the tourists the happiest. We'll just pick up the tab
the New Valley Library
There are several projects that are vying for inclusion on the 1% sales tax initiative. Each project has its own merits - as well as its own set of supporters and detractors. For many reasons, the relocation of the Valley Library from leased space to permanent quarters is paramount.
People with internet, PCs, Ipads, Kindles, etc may not see the need to move the library from its rented space into a true library setting. The internet is an amazing (and sometimes damaging) creature – but where does that leave many citizens of Juneau that can’t afford a Kindle, an internet connection, a PC - let alone a collection of children’s books?
There have been numerous studies that show the clear and defined benefits of teaching children to read at an early age. Children also need to experience the tactile sensory stimulation of turning the pages, seeing the vibrant pictures and colors - the smell of the books. This experience can’t be replicated on a Kindle.
If a person does not have internet how do they get the news, search for jobs, research school projects, email relatives and friends? By taking away public libraries, you hurt those that need them the most – the underserved. There is only one free source in town where they can get all of this – and that is at our Public Libraries. To demonstrate this point, there were over 330,000 visits to the libraries of Juneau last year.
Why wasn’t this project built 20 years ago? Simply put, the economics and the timing were not right. There was not a grant program in place that was offering us $7 million dollars for construction (this grant program is allowing the construction and renovation of 20 libraries across the state – but is anticipated to end in the near term). The Friends of the Juneau Public Libraries had not yet raised $1 million dollars to donate to the cause – as well as the Verna Carrigan Library Foundation donating another $300,000.
With a city-owned facility, we can SAVE the city operating money to the tune of about $40,000 a year (the rent expense more than offsets the utilities and maintenance of the new facility). This new Valley Library is now 66% funded. But if we do not take action now, the grant money will go away and the city will continue to pay about $200,000 a year (and increasing) in rent for its current location.
Please encourage your Assembly representatives to add this extremely worthwhile and valuable project to the 1% sales tax initiative.
Boorba, while they both would
Boorba, while they both would be great additions to our cultural and arts offerings, that isn't what the passenger fee was intended to be used for.