Senior Tax Exemption
Dear Editor: As chairman of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, I speak for the Tribal Council and Tribal citizens of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska to strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the Sitka General Code Chapter 4.09 “Sales Tax” Section 4.09.100Y. “Exemption for persons who have reached the age of sixty-five” and establishing Section 4.09.130 “Rebate of a portion of Sales Tax for certain persons who have reached the age of sixty-five and are experiencing financial hardship.”
This represents the City and Borough of Sitka’s Assembly total disconnect with its citizens – especially the older citizens who live on fixed incomes and who have a difficult time dealing with the relentless changes that make it simply impossible to live here. Mayor Mim McConnell and the Assembly ignored our requests for utilities increases and now they propose to create a bureaucratic nightmare for our elder citizens by requiring them to go out of their way to complete forms to request a tax rebate, provide documentation that they are a resident, and on top of that, prove that they are “experiencing financial hardship” so that they can receive a prescribed rebate?
Then the proposed rebate is capped at $200,000 collectively! So if an elderly citizen happens to make the extra effort to file for a rebate after this cap is reached, they simply do not receive it because of the arbitrary cap? Are you kidding me?
The sponsors, Hunter and Eisenbeisz, are both the youngest members of the Assembly and obviously are totally unaware or apathetic to our older citizens who are struggling every day to live here in Sitka. It’s obvious they are out of touch with reality, but is the rest of the Assembly also out of touch with reality? What community do they live in? Do they even listen to all the citizens or just to their select circles of friends who can afford to live here?
The Sitka Tribe of Alaska demands that the Assembly drop the proposed repeal of the Sales Tax Exemption for persons sixty-five and older. This is NOT in the best interests of the citizens of Sitka and simply an unacceptable action of the City and Borough of Sitka.
Michael A. Baines, Chairman,
Sitka Tribe of Alaska
Eighth-Grade Picnic
Dear Editor: Yesterday the eighth- grade students had a fun day at the Halibut Point Recreation area. We lucked out and had good weather. Kids played in the water, at the beach and in the woods. They ate burgers and hot dogs, along with treats provided by the parents. There were games played and raffle prizes that were awarded. Fun times were had and a great memories were made for their last full day as eighth-graders at Blatchley Middle School.
This day was made possible by many eighth-grade families, school maintenance staff, Halibut Point Recreation Area park staff and all the wonderful and fabulous BMS staff.
A big thanks to the parents that were able to help with chaperoning, set up, clean up, grilling and announcing events. A special thanks to the Northern Sales, Sea Mart, Sitka Sound Seafoods and the many parents that donated to fund this fun day for the kids. This event would not be possible without this generous community support.
We are truly thankful to live and work in this community that invests in their children. It really does take a village to raise a child and we are grateful to live here in Sitka!
The Eighth Grade
Picnic Planning Committee
Senior Taxes
Dear Editor: I wish there were more people to thank former City of Sitka employees for their service, because we have been blessed to have the VERY EXCELLENT employees we have had; if only we could have paid them more.
However, even though they carry the heavy influence of having been a REALLY GOOD EMPLOYEE, does not mean that taxes should not rise for folk. I absolutely agree that higher taxes are inconvenient, but I would stand tall to argue that poor schools are an existential threat to every one of our families.
The senior tax exemption is unbelievably biased to the richest land owners in town.
Even from my point of view I can see that the rich in this town are stepping on their collective well-being by opposing a deletion of the senior tax exemption and a rise in property taxes.
Our rich don’t realize that we are rich, and inappropriately resent taxes.
Dan Dunn, Sitka
