At its regular meeting Monday night, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly introduced a dozen ordinances for discussion at its next meeting, scheduled for Aug. 13, including ordinances to place a five-year extension of the 1 percent special sales tax and a $25 million bond issue for Juneau capital projects on the October ballot.
The procedural move marked a vital, if uncontroversial, step forward for the sales tax and bond issue, allocations for which were hotly debated at two Finance Committee meetings on June 28 and July 2.
“It’s the first step to getting them on the ballot,” said City Manager Kim Kiefer. “There’s the introduction that happened tonight, and then the public hearing that will happen (at) the first meeting in August. And then assuming the Assembly supports that, then it will be on the ballot in October.”
A Human Resources Committee meeting was held prior to the regular Assembly meeting, at which Mark Smith was recommended for appointment to the Sales Tax Board of Appeals, Maria Uchytil was recommended for appointment to the Sister Cities Committee, Myrna Gardner was recommended for appointment to both the Board of Equalization and the Fisheries Development Committee, and both incumbent Rosemary Hagevig and newcomer Christopher Krenz were recommended for appointment to the Aquatic Facilities Advisory Board.
Gardner applied for four committees, including the two to which she was named as well as the Sister Cities Committee and the Juneau Commission on Sustainability. But Assembly member Ruth Danner, chairwoman of the Human Resources Committee, suggested two appointments would put enough on Gardner’s plate.
“It might be good, I think, to offer these two positions to Ms. Gardner,” said Danner. “We think that the time commitment is appreciated… (and) we don’t want to impinge any more than that.”
The Assembly accepted all of the Human Resources Committee’s recommendations without objection.
The Assembly also awarded bids to SECON for runway safety improvements at the Juneau International Airport and Trucano Construction for cruise ship terminal staging area work, as well as a professional services contract to PND Engineers, Inc., for the first phase of the Aurora Harbor rebuild.
• Contact reporter Mark D. Miller at 523-2279 or at mark.d.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (21)
Add commentWhat's in a name?
"Special Tax" "Temporary Tax"... Neither seems to fit.
After this many years of renewal, it doesn't make sense to call it 'temporary'. And I don't really see what makes it 'special' - the projects being pursued aren't so different from many other projects the City does.
Maybe 'Discretionary Tax' since the public gets to vote on it, and the projects it will fund? Or how about an 'Infrastructure Tax' since it's primarily being spent on building stuff?
What interest rate will the City pay for bonds? That's a key consideration. Lately they've been rock bottom - what are they now?
We have two temporary 1% tax.
We have two temporary 1% tax. This extends one. What about the other one?
Dump the 1%!
They know it's coming up for vote so they SOLICITED ways to spend it as selling points to have it pass the ballot. They proposed a solution and then looked for a problem to apply it to. Ditch this 1% and we can work on the other 3% temporary tax in about 4 years.
HOW SPECIAL!
It is totally dishonest for the Juneau Empire and CBJ to refer to the TEMPORARY 1% sales tax as a "special" 1% sales tax. I suggest reading the city ordinance. One need not read any further than the first "Whereas" to know the proper definitions of both the "tempoary 1% sales tax" and the "temporary 3% sales tax". But, do read all three pages. We revisited the 3% last year and will again in 2016. So, how about it, JE?
http://www.juneau.org/clerk/Ordinances/ORD2007-46(b)-Areawide_Sales_Tax_&_Voter_Approval.pdf
Goes to show you
Goes to show you that once a tax is implemented it becomes permanent. Never believe the government when they tell you it's only "temporary." And of course always remember the government, if it ever does cut a tax, is "giving" you something, not simply reducing what it's taking.
vote
I'm voting no, because heating fuels & groceries are not exempted.
& can anyone explain why we're charged a five dollar surcharge by cbj for paying water & sewer bills on line?
the 1% temporary sales tax
the 1% temporary sales tax levy funding is intended to be used for a variety of capital projects.
Including the Statter Harbor Haul out.
Multi Millions are about to go into Harbor Projects.
http://www.juneau.org/assembly/agendas/2012/2012-07-16/2012-07-16_Index.php
skirkz
I tend to agree. Rather than having some projects that people really are convinced we need and then coming up with a proposed 1% tax, it looks like the idea is "Renew the 1% tax and let's see how we can spend it."
As several commentors have pointed out, in our present economic situation in the nation and locally, we need to distinguish "needs" from "wants".... a lot of households have to do that every month.
Nothing temporary about it.
Nothing temporary about it. The only thing temporary is the amount. It will go up as soon as they can...
I dont mind having 'temp'
I dont mind having 'temp' taxes to help with community with things. But I feel it should be temporary at least for awhile. Have it for a year and then no option to have it for a year. Or two on two off. At the very least so the assembly doesn't count on it. They shouldn't be holding meetings to come up with projects to fund. Temporary to me not only means not permanent but also the very nature of the projects should be needs as WM mentioned. Besides, anything the city NEEDS should be in the general budget. We shouldn't have temp tax to take care of things they should have taken care of before. We have time for most things they have listed. The city wont collapse if these projects don't get done ASAP.
Alaskastu
I agree
I don't know how many times...
...I've said this. Dump this tax, if only for one election year, to give CBJ the message that this is NOT a permanent cash cow that they can count on to fund their largesse. They are addicted to the renewal of this TEMPORARY sales tax and will do ANYTHING to sell it on the ballot every 5 years. They'll pick out a project "for the kids" to get the votes. The TEMPORARY 3% sales tax is the same deal. CBJ is long overdue for a reality check. Too long they've had a blank check. Do this town a favor. Make the assembly go cold turkey. Rather than let them saddle the next generation with mainanence on today's fluff, hold them to living within their means. Believe me, IT'S FOR THE KIDS!
It's time for CBJ to compromise
I’ve been paying this “temporary” tax to the city since I moved here 20 years ago. It’s about time the CBJ compromised a little bit and exempted gas, fuel oil and food. I’m tired of having to pay an extra 20 cents a gallon just to put gas in my car, oil in my house, and milk in my kid.
If the exemptions are proposed, I will vote for it. If they are not, I will vote no.
Voters keep voting the tax in
The voters of Juneau have renewed the temporary tax at every opportunity to dispose of it. The "government" has never renewed the tax.
I have no problem calling it temporary, it expires every five years unless the voters of Juneau renew it.
Fully support those who want to end Juneau's practice of taxing food and basic necessities. (Ever look at your water and sewer bill? We pay sales tax on services the CBJ provides! Talk about having the CBJ hands in both pockets)
This taxed by the tax exempt.
If you took the tax exempt voters (seniors citizens) out of the vote, do you think these temporary taxes would still pass? I'm guessing they wouldn't.
Good point, Johnny Red
It's kinda unfair having those that are tax-exempt voting on whether or not to re-up a "temporary tax". Of course, they are going to vote yes.....they get whatever the benefit may be, without having to pay anything for it.
For the 1st time in 30 years
For the 1st time in 30 years (since I came of voting age) I'm inclined to vote "no" on this tax. I am tired of being emotionally manipulated into voting for this tax. I see in the paper that people are clamoring for another ice rink in the Valley - do we really need that?? Exempt food, gas, heating fuel - as some of my fellow posters have been saying for years - and I might be willing to change my mind. But until then, I will join with others in voting "NO!"
CBJ - are you listening??
@bigtall
The tax exempt people in my family will be voting no on the sales tax extension (you may even know them). While they may be tax exempt, they are also frugal with their money and expect the City to be as well. Your assumption that all tax exempt aka seniors always vote yes for the extension is wrong.
Tax Exempt Assumption
Kiki,
I applaud the seniors in your family for voting what they feel is right. However, the fact that they are allowed to vote yes or no on whether to impose taxes on people when they themselves are exempt from the tax is the issue. Your assumption that I am implying all seniors vote yes is as bad an assumption as you implying that all seniors vote no for these taxes. Since most of these sales taxes get passed by a 1 or 2% margin, I am assuming that if you took the tax exempt voters out of the vote, that it would fail to pass by a 1 or 2% margin. I could very well be wrong, but I don’t think so.
@Johnny Red
Many of the seniors in this town have paid more taxes in their lifetime than most have. The sales tax exemption was put in place, partly to keep retirees from leaving due to the high cost of living. If you want to discuss the sales tax exemption itself, thats one thing but taking away their vote, let alone anyone's right to vote is simply wrong. If you dont like the sales tax exemption, then fight to get it removed. When I was in my 20's, I would look at the list of projects and vote for them all, a swimming pool, yes, a new baseball field, yes. Now that Im older, own a home, and follow City budget issues, I vote and think differently. Perhaps its being more informed, I dont know. But I think there are other "groups" in this town that contribute to the continued sales tax extension as well. Your answer to the problem is denying seniors a right to vote and that to me, is simply wrong, when many of them have probably paid more taxes than you or I. Should people new to Juneau be allowed to vote when they've paid little taxes yet? Yes, they should. There will always be plenty of people that dont have as much "skin in the game" in someone else's eyes, denying anyone's right to vote because you dont think a certain group should have a say, or that you dont like how they may or may not vote, is wrong.
@Kiki
Let me say that I agree with all of your points on seniors, their right to vote, the taxes they have paid and that other “groups” are pushing the sales tax extensions forward. Once again, you are reading what I wrote, but are assuming something I have not said. I never said that seniors, or anybody for that matter, shouldn’t be allowed to vote. All I did was point out a fact that most people overlook. So here is my entire view when it comes to sales taxes in Juneau. Some I vote for, some I vote against. The city should exempt food and fuel from sales taxes and every eligible voter should be allowed to vote for everything on the ballot. My position has not changed in 20 plus years of living in Juneau.