Senior Sales Tax
Dear Editor: I would like to correct my letter to the editor I wrote on Friday, April 13, 2018.
The part I want to correct is how the Assembly members voted on Tuesday, April 10. On amending Chapter 4.09 ‘‘Sales Tax.’’ Voting for amending was Mayor Matt Hunter, Kevin Knox and Bob Potrzuski. Voting against was Aaron Bean, Dr. Richard Wein and Benjamin Miyasato. One Assembly member, Steven Eisenbeisz, was out of town. So, for the first reading on Tuesday, April 10, of this amended ordinance, it was a tie vote.
The second and final reading of Senior Sales Tax ORD-18-14 is Tuesday, April 24, at the Centennial Hall which starts at 6 p.m. I urge the senior citizens and any resident of Sitka to attend the Assembly meeting to testify either for or against this amendment. If it passes, senior citizens will no longer be able to use their senior tax-exempt card.
Under this amendment, there is a once-a-year rebate for senior citizens for a one-time payment from the city of Sitka for either $350 or $450 and to qualify seniors would have to apply between Jan. 1 to March 31 of every calendar year.
There is a petition asking the Assembly not to take away the senior sales tax and it’s at Stereo North store BUT coming in person to testify would be very important.
Harriet Beleal, Sitka
