Vehicle Tax
Dear Editor: I was stunned to read the Sentinel article reporting the city Assembly voted favorably (first reading) for a $100-or-greater annual tax on each vehicle registered in Sitka. Four of the five “yes” votes were cast by members who promised on July 10, 2012, to complete a study of ways to mitigate roadway funding shortfalls before modifying SGC 4.12.020 to levy a vehicle tax. Two years later, these same civic leaders are violating their promise to their constituents by trying to perpetrate the very same vehicle tax that was “postponed indefinitely” as a matter of public record on Sept. 11, 2012, without completion of the promised analysis. In this matter, the city Assembly and mayor are derelict in their duties as stewards of the public trust and monies.
This absence of a plan for roadway improvements was glaringly reinforced during a town hall meeting held May 7, 2014, by city planners. At the event, city reps told residents of an unpaved subdivision that each household must pay up to $50,381 if they wanted their streets paved like other residential roads. When concerns arose over the absence of city cost sharing, the lack of a city promise to fund future repairs after the residents paid, and inconsistent paving standards; a spokesman defended the city’s stance by stating, “no formal plan exists to address road maintenance or upgrades.” That candor was not refreshing, but rather, an alarming reminder of the unfulfilled Assembly promise of 2012.
I strongly disagree with Assembly Member Mike Reif’s statement that the proposed, uninformed tax “has a sense of fairness.” If that were the case the proposed tax would not disenfranchise Sitka residents while unduly penalizing them with all tax burdens associated with roadway costs. Yet none of the 36,000 annual Sitka visitors, seasonal hires, or governmental employees (approximately 30 percent of all local workers) pay their proportional share of roadway usage fees if their vehicles are not registered in Sitka.
Levying a tax without a strategic roadway plan is wildly irresponsible, as shown by 81 percent of all comments posted on KCAW’s Facebook site being hugely critical of this issue. In the private sector it is akin to promising one’s boss to study a problem, doing nothing for two years, then begging the boss for money when the problem becomes a crisis. Needless to say, that’s a quick way to get fired. Pursuing any tax without a formal roadway plan and objectively fielding public concerns on escalating costs of living is a continued erosion of local fiscal infrastructure and public trust. This is clearly highlighted by the empty storefronts on Lincoln Street, plethora of residential ‘‘for sale’’ signs, and “graying” of the median age of Sitka residents as young families seek greener pastures.
David Durham, Sitka
Flat Vehicle Tax
Dear Editor: I think the flat tax per vehicle is not going to work. Here’s why. Road taxes have to be graduated to the weight and characteristics of the vehicle.
If you tax a Prius or a Subaru at the same rate as a truck, the owner of the car is being penalized for damage he/she is not doing, and the owner of the truck is getting off scot-free. A useful city road tax per vehicle would be graduated by gross weight. It also would tax studded tires, which I understand are one of the culprits in our road damage. The tax would be stiff enough to induce vehicle owners to seek tax reductions for cooperative behavior, such as using tires and axles that distribute weight, or that have rubber characteristics that eliminate studs, or otherwise are friendly to the road surface.
Much of our road damage is caused by heavy trucks; just think of the depressed grooves that develop where rubber meets the road. A graduated tax penalizing weight would change hauling habits. More, lighter trips, drop axles and better tires would come into use.
Studs could simply be outlawed.
It probably is better to allow people to make smart tax choices, rather than to make them resent direct control. The flat rate car tax is an example of government flexing its power, without getting the desired result.
The flat rate car tax is over-simplified. It punishes car owners, without inducing changes that will reduce or eliminate road damage. People won’t get rid of their vehicles. We need to change the way we use our vehicles.
Thanks for thinking about this.
John Welsh, Sitka
Tax Increases
Dear Editor: In response to the Wednesday, July 23, article on ‘‘Car Tax,’’ I feel the need to make a few comments. First of all, now is not the time to keep adding taxes to the already-struggling residents of this community.
I for one am tired of every time the Assembly meets they feel it’s OK to keep stealing from my already-challenged budget, thanks to the we-can-just-add-25-percent-anytime-we-want folks for the light bills and don’t need to ASK if we can do it or not.
This city government is driving people out, making what people are left holding the bag for all the little things past government Assemblies have tabled. I ask why must we do all these things at one time when we know the state will not give any help?
The library, the Centennial building, tourist walkways and banners, new street sweepers for the bad roads, SUVs instead of economy cars, just to name a few things that do not need to be done right now when we have no money thanks to building a dam.
So, I ask, how much will the bike people be taxed for road use? And how much will we be taxed for sidewalk use because they will wear out as well?
I could be wrong, but I do not remember getting a vote on these things. They were just pushed through without regard for who can pay for them.
I say enough is enough to the Assembly. You cannot fix everything at one time on the back of one generation and saddle future generations with your spend, spend, spend thinking.
Do you think I can say, well, I’ll just be giving you 25 percent less like you tell me I will be giving you 25 percent more?
I feel Sitkans need to put the brakes on a city government that is just too eager to say ‘‘YOU WILL PAY.’’
I can hardly afford to live here at the rate you are increasing things and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. It’s time to starting saying not just no, but hell no!
We have lived with substandard roads and done just fine. We just need real true blacktop people in the future to do them right, not just ‘‘grind and patch.’’
In closing, I say NO to taxing anything else right now until you drop what you have put on in increases.
Ron Mears, Sitka
