The Next Chapter
Dear Editor: This is both a heartfelt thank you and a special invitation to the residents of Sitka.
The thank you is to Ann Vallion as she retires. Over the years of dedicated service she has given to the Kettleson Memorial Library, and now, the Sitka Public Library, Ann has covered everything from soup to nuts for us! Many of you will be familiar with her friendly help at the circ desk, her assistance with new materials for library patrons and interlibrary loans requests for special items, to mention only a few notable duties. She has been a wonderful librarian for us all, and a good friend.
What folks may not have recognized is Ann’s even more special expertise in sharing flower arrangements at the library, making exceptional pies and baked treats, her ever-ready ‘‘Mom’’ advice, being our local shopping expert, our shelf reader extraordinaire and the happiest ‘‘shifter’’ ever on staff. And then there are her special red shoes ... and her motorcycle!
These are just a few of the many things we will miss when Ann steps into her next chapter, and rides off into the sunset at the end of April. We would love for Sitka patrons to stop in and wish Ann a bon voyage during her last week of work. She has been trying to keep her secret under wraps, so don’t tell her you heard it from us!
With gratitude to Ann,
Sitka Public Library Staff
Assembly and Taxes
Dear Editor: This is the first time in over 30 years of living in Sitka that I felt it was time to comment on some of the items that our Assembly is going to vote on this week. As an individual who works in private industry the discussions the Assembly make will affect both my employer and personal life.
The first item is the Senior Citizen Tax Exemption repeal up for consideration. As a business trying to enforce this tax it is very frustrating. I have seen many abuses of this tax and feel that it should be repealed in some form. Modifying this tax to an as-needed basis is a change that I agree with. Using the same or modified guidelines for the Utility Subsidy Program would make it easier to explain the program and less work for city staff. I will comment that I am eligible to use this Senior Citizen Tax Exemption but have refused to use it. With the population increasing in the 65-and-over age bracket more individuals are going to be eligible for this tax exemption in the future. Now is the time to make this change.
The increase in the bed tax and the outlined distribution of the funds is an item that I do not agree with. Most communities use the revenue from bed taxes to support tourism or some other capital expenditures that are related to sporting structures. Asking outside citizens to pay for services or buildings that we use almost exclusively, and they don’t, is the wrong approach to paying for them.
In the Sitka’s Economy 2018 presented by SEDA, we have seen an increase in both cruise ship passengers and independent travelers. Much of this has been driven by events in other foreign countries and the good press that Sitka has received over the last couple of years. The addition of a deep-water dock, which we as a community voted down several times, is another reason for the current and expected increase in cruise ship passengers. Bed tax revenue is up along with sales tax receipts due to these increases. Let’s keep people coming to Sitka and not price ourselves out of the market.
I am concerned that as a community, through our Assembly, we have taken an approach on asking outside citizens to pay for our services. I see this in the sales tax changes, utility increase and the new bed tax changes. If we as a community cannot afford the services that we are provided, then we need to find a way to accomplish this on our own and not ask others to pay. The industry that I am employed in pays 75 percent of the sales tax from summer receipts. Many of the individuals we do business with are Sitka residents. These seasonal tax increases don’t affect just outside individuals. I would support changing the sales tax to 6 percent year round.
For those of you who are interested in the future of our community, I would suggest reviewing the Sitka’s Economy 2018 presented a couple of weeks ago by SEDA. There is some very good information in this report and some alarming. Items that I noticed are the aging population, decrease in population and enrollment in our schools, 19 percent increase in local government employment and 19 percent decrease in state/federal employment in our community. All of these factors are going to make living in Sitka a greater challenge in the future.
Tim Ryan, Sitka
Senior Tax Exemption
Dear Editor: It seems unlikely that the intent of Sitka’s Assembly, in redoing the Senior Sales Tax Exemption, is to deny impoverished non-tribal seniors a sales tax exemption, yet that would be the effect of the pending ordinance.
Three of the means test qualifying programs considered by the Assembly are for Tribal members only. One, enrollment in the school lunch program, doesn’t seem to apply because how many seniors have school-age children? Qualifying for Medicaid would work for few seniors. If one is under 65, personal savings aren’t part of the qualifying criteria; however, for seniors there is a qualifying cap of $2,000 in savings for Medicaid, no matter how low that senior’s income.
Unless it is the intent of Sitka’s Assembly to deny many of Sitka’s impoverished seniors a sales tax rebate, Assembly members should talk privately to outreach and enrollment specialists, who are the experts, about these diverse programs before deciding that they are a logical or fair means test for any City of Sitka policy.
Matt Donohoe, Sitka
Lara Downes Concert
Dear Editor: On Saturday, April 14, the Sitka Summer Music Festival hosted our annual spring concert fundraiser with guest pianist Lara Downes performing a tribute to Leonard Bernstein. It was a beautiful evening of music, food and friends. Thank you to all who attended.
We have many people to thank for helping to make this evening another fun and successful fundraiser for the Festival. First off, thank you to all our auction donors including Sea Mart Quality Foods, Don and Penny Lehmann, Juneau Jazz and Classics, Alaska Seaplanes, Juneau Rainforest Cottage, Olga and Doug Borland, Tiffany Pearson, Nancy and Stan Barge, and the Sitka Police Department. Also, Dove Island Lodge and Back Door Cellars, Absolute Tree Care, Allen Marine Tours, Spencer Williams, Dan Evans, Garden Ventures, Silver Basin, K&E Alaska, Kari Lundgren, Dr. James Moras, Cyndy Gibson, 4-B Charters, and Pet’s Choice Veterinary Hospital.
A big thanks to Our Town Catering for the delicious food; the Nugget for the crafty bar; Harrigan Centennial Hall staff for their tremendous help; the Sitka Sentinel, KCAW/Raven Radio, KIFW for help with promotion; Cheryl Vastola for her Sewing Solutions; Trenton Capp for his artistic touch; Sitka Fine Arts Camp; White’s Inc. for the balloons; Sea Mart for helium and cookies; Matthew Turner for his creative touch; Christine Davenport for photos; Stef Steffen, Mary and Roger Hames, Loyd and Julie Platson, Peter Apathy and Carole Knuth, Max Johnson, and Cheri Hample for their volunteer help. With appreciation,
The Sitka Summer Music Festival
