FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]
By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]
Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Gus Schumacher, the Anchorage Olympic cross-country skier, a [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
Alaska’s rural schools are on track to access faster interne [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska, [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 25
At 7:48 a.m. a calle [ ... ]
Vietnam-Era Vets
Invited to Lunch,
Commemoration
American Legion Post 13 will host a luncheon 1-3 p.m. [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The 2024 Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery got under [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly will start the annual process of determi [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Competing in the 3A state championship title basketball game Saturday, the M [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing through the afternoon Sunday, City League volleyball teams faced off [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Assembly to Weigh Funding Priorities
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
A majority of Assembly members advised city staff at a budget meeting Thursday that it wants to increase local funding for schools for fiscal year 2020-2021, but held off on making a final decision on any item in the budget.
The Assembly has been told rate increases are needed in a number of enterprise funds starting July 1 in order to continue services at present levels, and to set aside funds for major repairs, such as the replacement of Eliason Harbor.
One of the greatest concerns city staff and Assembly members raised during budget discussions was planning for future infrastructure repairs and replacement. At the top of the list is a $13 million upgrade of the Green Lake hydro plant.
“If (components) fail, we’ll be burning diesel ... (at) $1 million a month,” said Interim City Administrator Hugh Bevan.
School Funding
Although a final vote was not taken, there was a general consensus on the Assembly for funding schools to the cap, and also funding “non-instructional” school items. The Assembly plans a vote on the funding following a Feb. 6 meeting with school officials.
At the Dec. 23 meeting Assembly members expressed support for providing the maximum allowed on the instructional side ($7,053,234), with an additional $358,759 on the non-instructional side for such items as the Blatchley pool, the Performing Arts Center, and maintenance of district buildings.
“This is an increase of $333,000 or a 4.6 percent increase from 2020 support,” the Assembly’s information packet said.
Richard Wein said he believes it’s too early to make decisions on school funding, before seeing what the needs of the district are, what the needs of the city are, and how much the state will provide.
“Promising higher numbers is premature,” he said.
Others expressed support for the funding plan they have already reviewed.
“We’re trying to do our best to take care of our schools,” commented Mayor Gary Paxton. Thor Christianson said the quality of schools is an “economic driver” that draws people to Sitka, and keeps them here.
Rate Increases
User fee increases were proposed to keep up with inflation in the electric, water and wastewater funds, with a 5.5 percent increase proposed for solid waste and 3 percent for harbors.
The increase for utilities for the average household was estimated at $106.56 per year, not counting increases in harbor rates.
The biggest increase proposed was in solid waste. The fund shows a “working capital” at the end of June at negative $1.8 million.
“It’s going the wrong way,” commented City Controller Melissa Haley. If the Assembly approves the rate increase as proposed ($3.40 per month for 90 gallons), it will reduce the negative fund balance by the end of FY21. Most of the increased costs are due to the increasing quantity of garbage being produced in Sitka, and “built-in contractual increases” for the city’s garbage contractor.
Nonprofit Funding
Another assumption for the FY21 budget is keeping the same level of city support for nonprofits, including dedicated donations to Sitkans Against Family Violence ($50,000), Sitka Historical Society ($97,000), Sitka Economic Development Association ($63,000), and The Ride bus service ($25,000). Other nonprofits compete for some of the $50,000 the city usually makes available from the general fund.
Wein commented he would like to hear reports and justification for city funding from all nonprofits receiving benefits from the city, including those with property tax exemptions.
Steven Eisenbeisz said he would like the total benefit tallied for the historical society, which does not pay rent or utilities for the Sitka History Museum in Centennial Hall. Society Director Hal Spackman said today the Assembly last year approved two years of free utilities for the museum.
New Funding Questions
City staff asked for Assembly feedback on a number of items. In general, the Assembly gave direction to not fund a $200,000 system engineer job in the electric department, or fill the assistant fire chief position. No clear direction was given on filling a public works engineering position, or giving signing bonuses to new police officers.
The Assembly agreed to consider a loan application to start funding the major upgrade on the Green Lake hydro plant estimated at $5 million for the first phase of the project. Debt service was estimated at $300,000 per year – through the general fund – and the loan would be through the USDA Rural Development office.
The Assembly gave positive responses to Bevan’s idea of long-range financial and infrastructure planning, and a succession plan in the finance department, including covering new audit standards requirements.
But most members did not give a “yes” or “no” on increasing the salary being offered to fill the library director vacancy, or for the vacant engineer position in public works. They also said they didn’t want to give funding to address homelessness outside the nonprofit grant process, as proposed by Bevan.
“We have an increasing homeless problem,” Bevan said. “The bulk of it falls on Centennial Hall and library (staff).” Assembly members praised the work of the Homeless Coalition but said they felt it would be better for funding to come through the nonprofit application process. Last year, some $4,000 was given from that account to the Homeless Coalition.
“A lot of people are doing the Lord’s work,” commented Paxton, about the Homeless Coalition. He added that the Sitka Tribe of Alaska is involved in helping address homelessness in Sitka, and it would be a good idea for the city to help as well.
Also at the meeting, the Assembly heard a brief report from the city’s new lobbying firm, Blank Rome Government Relations LLC.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....