Senior Sales Tax
Dear Editor: Subject: ORD 18-14 Amending Chapter 4.09 ‘‘Sales Tax’’ of the Sitka General Code by deleting Section 4.09.100Y ‘‘Exemption for Persons who have Reached the Age of Sixty-Five,’’ adding new Section 4.09.130 ‘‘Annual Sales Tax Rebate for Persons who have Reached the Age of Sixty-Five’’ and amending Section 4.09.420 ‘‘Definitions.’’
I attended the City Assembly meeting at the Centennial Hall on Tuesday, April 10. I testified for three minutes against a new city ordinance about the senior citizen tax exempt status we seniors (I’m 84 years old, came to Sitka in 1947 as a student at Mt. Edgecumbe School) have currently for all seniors 65 years or older.
As I understand it, if the new ordinance passes the Assembly Tuesday, April 24, at the city Assembly meeting, the current senior tax exempt cards Sitka residents hold will no longer be used. The new ordinance, ‘‘Sales Tax Rebate,’’ if passed on Tuesday, April 24. On the second reading, we seniors would have to re-apply for a once-a-year rebate of either $350 or $450. Seniors 65 or older would have to apply and fill out on application to prove his/her eligibility for this rebate. Filing time is Jan. 1 to March 31 of each year. To be eligible, a senior should be low income, receiving assistance from one of the following programs: (a) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from the State of Alaska; Medicaid; Baranof Island Housing Authority, tribal housing; STA General Assistance Program; or the National School Lunch Program. The city finance department will screen the applicants. Also, be a permanent resident of Sitka.
I strongly urge all residents of Sitka to attend the second reading of this new ordinance on Tuesday, April 24, around 6 p.m. for ‘‘Persons to be Heard’’ (three-minute time limit) to voice your opinion, one way or another. Young adults should attend also.
On April 10, during the first reading of this ordinance, three Assembly members voted against, three for the new ordinance. One Assembly member was out of town. Voting for the new ordinance was Aaron Bean, Dr. Richard Wein and Ben Miyasato. Mr. Steven Eisenbeisz was out of town.
When I was in Juneau, Alaska, I applied and got a temporary senior citizen tax exempt card to use by showing my State of Alaska ID and one other ID. Juneau has over 30,000 residents, Sitka, approximately 8,000 permanent and not many jobs residents, I believe.
Signing a petition is a good way but coming in person is even better. Thank you for this opportunity to voice my opinion.
Harriet B. Beleal, Sitka
Property Taxes
Dear Editor: Sitka started out the year with the school district asking the city for an extra $2.4 million and City Hall saying they wanted an additional $4 million to satisfy their needs. Assembly member Potrzuski stated the Assembly could have given them these extra millions if the voters would have agreed to do away with the property tax cap. It’s chilling to think we have Assembly members that would have raised our property taxes $6.4 million in one year.
The Assembly is elected by voters to protect the citizens of Sitka from government overreach and abuse. Sadly our mayor and most of our Assembly members appear to be working for our local government and is willing to grant their every wish.
Listen Assembly members ... it’s not our fault tax dollars were not set aside to repave our streets ... it’s not our fault part of the money we paid in utility fees was not set aside to make repairs and replace worn out infrastructure ... it’s not our fault money we paid in moorage fees was not set aside to make repairs in our harbors ... it’s not our fault Sitka Community Hospital owes $37 million in employee retirement debt. Stop blaming us for these problems. You weren’t hired to represent the city – you were elected to represent the voters. (And I’m not talking about all the special interest groups in town but the majority that’s out here working and voted down your efforts to remove the property tax cap.)
Clyde Bright, Sitka
