CBJ- The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly is nearing the end of the Fiscal Year 2027 budgeting process. Below is an update on the budget actions that took place last week, as well as the next steps required before the Assembly’s June 15 deadline to finalize the budget.
What’s happened so far:
Monday, May 18 – Regular Assembly Meeting
The Assembly adopted the Juneau School District budget for inclusion in the overall CBJ budget.
Wednesday, May 20 – Assembly Finance Committee Meeting
The Assembly reviewed, discussed and took action on 21 proposed expenditure reductions to get to a final budget for FY2027.
The nearly $4.7M in reductions includes a combination of one-time and recurring reductions to partner agency grants, capital projects and CBJ services and programming, including:
- $770,000 in cuts to Partner Agency Grants
- Reductions to Travel Juneau, Juneau Economic Development Council, the Alaska Committee and Alaska Heat Smart
- $1M in cuts to Capital Projects
- The Gastineau Avenue Widening & Turnaround project
- $507,1000 in cuts to CBJ Services, Operations and Programming
- Operational reductions to the City Museum, Parks & Recreation’s Landscaping division and Arboretum, and Administration.
- $2.7M in cuts to the Restricted Budget Reserve
- $247,000 added as a one-time subsidy to Gastineau Human Services through Bartlett Regional Hospital
These reductions are not final. They were included in the amended FY2027 budget and moved to the June 8 Assembly Meeting. The public can provide testimony at the June 8 meeting before the Assembly adopts the final budget.
The Assembly Finance Committee also took action on the following:
- An ordinance establishing the Mill Levy (9.92 mills including debt service) for property taxes was moved to the June 8 Assembly Meeting for public hearing and adoption.
- A resolution to adopt the Capital Improvement Plan and establish Capital Improvement Project Priorities for FY2027 was moved to the June 8 Assembly Meeting for public hearing and adoption.
- An ordinance appropriating funds for the FY2027 CBJ budget was moved to the June 8 Assembly Meeting for public hearing and adoption.
Wednesday, May 27 – Special Assembly Meeting
The Assembly introduced four ordinances that would amend the CBJ Uniform Sales Tax Code which, if adopted, would result in additional revenue:
- Ordinance removing the $30 compensation to sellers that opt to use the online sales tax reporting portal.
- Ordinance repealing the sales taxes exemption on commission charged by travel and tour agents
- Ordinance expanding the geographic boundaries for which CBJ sales tax must be collected aboard cruise ships while in CBJ waters
- Ordinance increasing the sales tax cap on the purchase of a single good or service from $14,300 to $30,000.
Following introduction, the Assembly set all four ordinances for public hearing at the next regular Assembly meeting on June 8.
What’s happening next:
Wednesday, June 3 at 5:30 p.m. – Assembly Finance Committee Meeting
CBJ’s independent auditors will provide the FY25 Audit Presentation, including their findings and recommendations. The Assembly will also discuss the proposed sales tax ordinances and general obligation bonds on schools and utilities. There will be an update on the Cost Allocation Plan.
Monday, June 8 at 6 p.m. – Regular Assembly Meeting
The Assembly will host its final public hearing on the FY 2027 budget. To testify, participants can come to the Assembly Chambers and sign-up. For remote participation, testifiers will need to call the Clerk’s Office at 907-586-5278 by 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting and indicate the topic they will speak on.
The Assembly will make any needed amendments and adopt a CBJ Budget Ordinance, Mill Levy Ordinance and Capital Improvement Project Resolution (as amended).
For more information, visit the Civic Clerk website. To share written comment, email boroughassembly@juneau.
