By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
An appeal of a Planning Commission decision, affordable clean energy, and first reading of the annual city budget ordinances are among items on the agenda of tonight’s Assembly meeting.
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
The draft administrator’s budget for fiscal year 2024 shows increased sales tax revenue from growth in tourism, that will cover the 14% increase in the general fund budget. “Revenue projections for the general fund assume sales tax revenue continues to rebound and reflects conservative increases from the level of growth seen during last summer’s tourism season,” the staff memo says.
The staff memo said the increase in general fund spending takes into account inflation, increased tourism and “maintaining momentum on improvements in municipal operations.”
The budget for enterprise funds show rate increases in all four of the services that show up on residents’ monthly utility bills, and also on boat moorage.
Household rate increases in the draft budget are Electric-3%, Water-6%; Wastewater 8.5%; Solid Waste 6.75%; and Moorage 7.3%.
City officials said the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of inflation, was up over 5 percent at the start of the budget process.
One of the lengthier items on the agenda tonight will likely be the Youth Advocates of Sitka’s appeal of the April 5 Planning Commission decision denying a conditional use permit for conversion of a large duplex at 3411 Halibut Point Road into a quasi-institutional group residence.
The planning department recommended approval of the request, but it was rejected on a 2-3 vote by the planning commission. The majority cited the opposition expressed by a large number of neighborhood residents.
The Assembly will be acting as the Board of Adjustment in considering the appeal by the nonprofit Youth Advocates of Sitka.
Other items on the agenda are a resolution to the Legislature calling for an increase in the base student allocation for funding local schools. The Senate has proposed a $1,000 per pupil increase and the House has proposed an $800 increase. The school district says that even the higher figure would not cover the increase in operating costs from inflation.
One of the final items is a resolution to apply to the National Renewable Energy Laboratories Clean Energy to Communities Program. If the city receives the grant, it may receive up to $500,000 in subcontract funding to help cover staff or consultant funding, and $3.5 million in technical assistance.
