I encourage Juneau’s outdoor community to vote for the 1 percent sales tax on the ballot today. Trail Mix, Inc. has worked closely with CBJ Parks and Recreation and the Parks and Rec. Advisory Committee to include four trail projects in the 1 percent sales tax. These projects were chosen for the benefits they would provide to the entire network of Juneau’s world class trails. If approved the tax would fund the construction or rehabilitation of nearly five miles of trail and create connections that would benefit over 40 miles of trail system.
Stretching from Eaglecrest to downtown Douglas, the Treadwell Ditch Trail has the potential to be one of the premier hiking and mountain biking trails in Juneau. Unfortunately, years of neglect have left navigable sections isolated from the whole; separated by missing bridges and washouts. Through partnerships with the USFS and CBJ Parks and Recreation, Trail Mix has worked hard to address these issues, and next year we will start construction on four bridges over major drainages between the Bonnie Brae Trail, and the Dan Moller Trail. The bridge over Paris Creek that is proposed in the 1 percent sales tax would be one of the last major links needed in this 15-mile-long trail.
Only half a mile separates the Auke Lake Trail, and the recently renovated Lower Montana Creek Trail. A connection between the two, funded by the sales tax would connect the Auke Lake and U.A.S. Trail systems with the Mendenhall Valley Trail system. This connection would also create a loop when the proposed bike path between the Brotherhood Bridge and UAS is constructed.
The Horse Tram trail connects the Amalga Meadows Trail and the Boy Scout Beach Trail, however in its current state it is far too muddy for regular use. The 1 percent sales tax would provide funding to widen and harden it. The steep and wet nature of our temperate rainforest provides few opportunities for mobility-impaired individuals to enjoy the forest that others often take for granted.
The proposed improvements to the Horse Tram Trail would upgrade it from a mucky rarely used trail into a gravel path wide enough for wheel chairs, creating an opportunity for those who are unable to access the wilderness we are surrounded with.
Multiday hikes in Juneau are rare. The Montana Creek/Windfall Lake trail is one of the few that can fit that description.
This historic trail, which has long since fallen into disrepair could once again fulfill that role. A capital improvement project funded by the City and Borough of Juneau fixed the erosion and drainage issues on the Lower Montana Creek trail last year. The 1 percent sales tax would repair the next portion of that trail.
Currently this flooded, rutted trail is used only by the most sure-footed of fisherman. Once improved, not only would add another link to the entire Montana Creek Trail, but it would also open up one of the best fly-fishing opportunities in Juneau.
As residents of Alaska’s Capital City, we enjoy one of the best trail systems in the world, but such a system requires attention. Please join me and vote for one of the best parts of Juneau.
• Boraas is the executive director of Trail Mix Inc.
Comments (17)
Add commentHe makes a good pitch
And these are projects I support. But I still have reservations about our current sales tax structure. Revise the tax and I'll be more agreeable to projects like this. The trails can wait a year.
Adjust the tax seasonally. Something like 3% in the winter and 6% in the summer, or some variant of that. Implement them when daylight savings switches. It'll give us something to look forward to when the days get shorter.
Nope,
Find some other source of funding. How about a use fee? Those who trek the trails could pay the lions share, while those who don't, wont have the burdon of the tax. I do like the idea of varied sales tax rates, higher while outsiders are here and lower after the season, just make it average for residents over a years time period?If a million tourists just left a couple extra bucks, it would mount up.
Vote NO
Too many projects that can wait until the climate of spend spend spend is over.
No on the sales tax. A per
No on the sales tax.
A per use fee sounds better.
Let the people who use it pay for it.
Here is some financial info on the Non-Profit, Trail Mix, Inc from their IRS 990 via Guidestar.com
2010
Revenue…$426,000
Salaries…$262,548
Office…$10,223
Travel…$12,426
Etc.....
Total expenses…$404,156
A per use fee?
How does one expect a trail in the woods to collect the toll? Are you suggesting a toll booth? An agent on hand? A parking lot with paid parking? I'm not sure a per use fee for trails is where Juneau is headed. Personally I like the trails around Juneau before Trail Mix makes them wheel chair accessible. Whatever you do, do not start charging for people to walk in the woods. If you want Southeast to be like California just save us all the hassle and move to California.
Bundling with Vonage....
Personally, I'm an avid hiker/backpacker and greatly appreciate the work that Trail Mix has done for the Juneau trail system. However, I find it really objectionable how, in almost every Juneau election, there are carefully crafted ballot measure/bond issues designed to further someone's personal pet project and/or agenda.
To insure the likelihood that the measures will pass, they're usually combined with some essential service upgrade or long-deferred maintenance project. Then, if by some great mischance they don't pass... they're just rewritten and resubmitted until they do. Then, of course, there's always the very real concern on how the raised monies will be prioritized - many times in ways the voting public never intended.
Yes, I love that cute yellow-lab puppy in the Vonage ads... but, no - I don't want to bundle either!
And... if there is "gold in them thar hills", I'd prefer that our local mining interests use their own funds instead of public revenues for its development.
No to 1%
There are always going to be major projects that need funding. This is a temporary tax and it is time to go away.
want to play?
You pay.
Fairness
We can have vigorous debates about what our sales taxes pay for, but I feel that sales taxes spread the cost of city government to everyone equally. Tourists pay the same 8% for a bottle of Jack Daniels as the guy living in his apartment here does. I pay the same 5% on a loaf of bread as the homeowner out in the Valley pays. 5% for everyday items and 8% for liquor seems like a fair tax structure. Without it, well... it wouldn't be pretty!
1%
Can take a hike,
I can't wait to vote no on
I can't wait to vote no on the other "temporary" sales tax. I'd rather send them some money than have someone take it from me.
No on 2
No on 2, rewrite it, then vote yes.
I am not necessarily opposed to trails, but there are too many other pet projects we can do without; and I would like to see the price Trail Mix is proposing we spend on these projects. The article only says that it is worth it, but does not list any monetary figures; I do not only like to test drive the car, but also like to know the cost before I sign on the dotted line. I am going to look into that.
I do not support "pay-as-you-walk either". It is a good idea on paper, but people should be able to enjoy the forest even if they are broke; also, we do not want to encourage folks to walk through the forest without staying on the trails either (dangerous and detrimental to the forest growth). I remember walking down a trail in the Redwood forest, only to get to the end, where we were guided by fences into a building; after opening the door, we found ourselves at a cash register. $10 for the walk.
Think about this,
If the tax goes through, the ATV and Quad people will support the walkers, with no support for them. Nope, user fees!
alaskabobc,
not to be a turd in the punchbowl, but walkers far outnumber ATVers in Juneau. If every issue got nixed because someone wasn't going to benefit like the rest, then where would we be? No way would we have an ice rink. No way would we have a ski area. No way would we have a harbor. So let's be reasonable and remember that we won't all agree but if we don't compromise we'll never get anything. I'm not in support of this but if it passes then so be it.
What about the trails we already have Borass?
Have you been up Dan Moeller lately? It is a dangerous mess. The CBJ/Trail Mix/USFS aren't maintaining the trails we already have yet you want to build more?
That sure seems to be a common theme. Don't maintain what we have, build more we can't afford, and then issue bonds to fix it up!!
Nuts! I have already voted no on both propositions.
@michaelh2001
No.. the tourists can go to city hall and get a no tax card. Same with people from other communities. the tax is only for the citizens of Juneau. Yep they can be tax exempt.
Essential services only
Juneau has a great trail system that we can be very proud of. Agree with the comment that there are trails out there that are in bad need of renovation work etc. Before spending a nickel on something new, the trails in poor condition need to be dealt with or removed from the system and obliterated. In an effort to reduce costs of maintaining a trail system a user fee needs to be considered.