In a packed meeting Monday night, the Juneau Assembly approved key measures, including a proposed seasonal sales tax structure and the city’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, while deferring several bond issues and continuing deliberation on ranked-choice voting.
Deputy City Manager Robert Barr said one of the most significant decisions was the approval of a revised seasonal sales tax ordinance, which will now head to the October ballot for voter consideration.
“The idea is to have a lower sales tax in winter months and a higher sales tax in summer months.” Barr explained, “and the Assembly did, ultimately pass the ordinance with some amendments.”
One amendment, introduced by Deputy Mayor Greg Smith, lowers the winter sales tax rate further, from 2.5% to 2%. Including the existing temporary 1% tax, which is renewed by voters every five years, the total off-season rate would be 3%.
The Assembly also passed the final draft of the All-Hazard Mitigation Plan, following public testimony, much of it centered on landslide risk.
“At the end of the day, the Assembly did pass the resolution.” Said Barr “So the next steps for that plan is that it will go on to the state and then to FEMA for adoption, and we’re hopeful that that will happen in time for us to be able to apply for grant opportunities that are coming down the line.”
The plan is key to unlocking federal funding opportunities, including hazard mitigation grants.
Deliberations also continued on ranked-choice voting, with the Assembly choosing to send the matter back to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion.
“There’s three or so ranked choice voting options that they’ve been working their way through. They’re all pretty complex.” Said Barr “And again, my general sense of the body last night is they just wanted more time to think, discuss and hear public input on those three options before deciding what to do.”
Barr encouraged residents to stay engaged and informed by signing up for Juneau’s emergency alert and notification system, which also offers general civic updates.
“Beyond that, looking at our agendas when they come out, usually on Thursdays before the next week’s meetings.” He said, “People can find those on juneau.org.”
This article has been corrected to adjust the winter sales tax from from 2.5% to 2%, rather than 3.5% as previously written.