City Sales Tax
Dear Editor: I do not share Marjorie Parmalee’s sympathy for charter guides dodging their share of city sales tax. They should never have been allowed to bundle their clients’ billings, in the first place. I remember one of them receiving parking places, in the harbor parking lot, to make her lodge possible. And then, allegedly, stiffing the city for $200,000 in sales tax. Paying their share of municipal expenses is entirely fair and justifiable.
My tax exempt number is four-thousand something. Meaning, fully half of the community is sales tax exempt. The only thing age has to do with it, is that the elderly are the people who have accumulated most of the businesses, real estate, fishing permits, etc. It is unrealistic to expect someone else, only our youths, to shoulder the tax burden of the wealthiest people in town. Or, look to the state and federal government to be our fairy godmother.
Get up in the morning, Put your pants on. One leg at a time. Go to work. Pay your taxes. And, shut up about it!
Sig Rutter, Sitka
Paying Taxes
Dear Editor: Upon further review it has been decided that my last letter was inappropriately polemic. I apologize; I did not intend to cast shade upon anyone. Maybe I should have had one fewer drink that evening.
I feel that I am guilty of passion. I love Sitka, and the thing that, if I may again share an opinion, really pushes our community up to a whole new level is our schools and city services. Higher taxes are a small price to pay to continue to employ our crack team of teachers, lawnmasters, harbor masters, administrators, Centennial Hall operators, water treaters, electric generators and everyone else working for the city. It’s like we have a couple hundred James Bonds accomplishing tasks and making the work of running the city look so easy that we all could be forgiven for forgetting to appreciate them.
Please understand that we get an unbelievable amount of value back when we pay our taxes.
Dan Dunn, Sitka
Community Bike Ride
Dear Editor: The Sitka Conservation Society and the Sitka Bicycle Friendly Community Coalition would like to thank everyone who helped make last Saturday’s Community Bike Ride and Cookout a success. Over 50 cyclists gathered on Saturday to promote bike safety and climate change awareness in Sitka. Led by Mayor Mim McConnell, we pedaled our way across town and up to the Halibut Point Recreation Area where we munched on delicious barbecue fare and refreshing root beer.
A huge thank you to all the individuals and businesses who helped make this event possible. In particular, we wish to thank Sea Mart, AC Lakeside Grocery, Alaskans Own, Baranof Island Brewing Company, Orion Sporting Goods, Murray Pacific and Sitka Community Hospital for donating food and bike-related prizes for the event. We also want to extend our profound gratitude to Steve Paustian, Bill Giant, Aaron Prussian and Bill Ferguson, who donated their valuable time and energy to perform free bike repairs on Saturday.
To all those who came out to the event – thank you. Our climate is changing rapidly and we owe it to future generations to curb our greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s to more safe and responsible cyclists in Sitka!
Sophie Nethercut, Sarah Komisar, Sitka Conservation Society
