On Dec. 15, 1986, Gov. Steve Cowper met with state employees to discuss the many budget cuts coming their way. Cowper tried to keep the mood light, outlining his plans to find revenue for the state to lessen the budget cut blows.
The City and Borough of Juneau found its own revenue problems, too. The finance department discovered up to $7.5 million per year was lost due to sales-tax exemptions, not including exemptions required by law. The exemptions were granted to a wide variety of groups, such as travel industries, contractors, medical professionals, bankers, renters and senior citizens. Altogether, about $15 million was lost to exemptions that they city grants each year, and although this amount was only an estimate, caused concern among Assembly members.
In Juneau, a local family had to deal with the results of a home fire caused by a child with a lighter. The fire caused about $30,000 in damage to the house and was started after a 3-year-old boy accidently ignited something while playing with a lighter. Among the damage was a laundry room, the house’s second floor ceiling and the attic.
“This Day in Juneau History” is compiled by Empire freelancer Tasha Elizarde, who sums up the day’s events — 30 years ago — by perusing Empire archives.
