By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
With more than 800 absentee ballots remaining to be counted Friday, Sitka School Superintendent Frank Hauser said he’s looking ahead to the next step in anticipation of the passage of Ballot Proposition 1.
The Yes votes on the proposition came to more than 56 percent of the total on the issue in the election day balloting. It proposes a special marijuana sales tax, with the proceeds dedicated to student activities in the school district.
On passage, marijuana will be exempt from the regular city sales tax starting on Jan. 1, 2023, and replaced by a special 6 percent marijuana sales tax dedicated to student activities and associated travel. The tax will rise to 8 percent in 2024 and subsequent years. Also, the senior sales tax exemption will no longer apply to marijuana.
Hauser said he will wait for the final count, but discussions are already under way about how the district will handle the expected $210,000 in revenue the first year and $280,000 the second.
Hauser said the preliminary plan is to establish an ongoing scholarship fund for activities fees, with eligibility extended to students who qualify for free or reduced meals.
“We could also cap activities fees for students to a yearly – rather than a per activity – participation fee,” he said. “Along with fundraising, this dedicated fund would also help support student travel and nonathletic activities participation at the middle- and elementary-school levels.”
Examples he provided were Battle of the Books, Spelling Bees and Geography Bees, and music festivals.
But he said the plan is far from being set.
“Most importantly the district would want to hear from the community on the fund moving forward,” Hauser said. “Once all the votes are counted, if the lead holds, I will be holding listening sessions to hear from the community on the fund.”
Hauser said he also wanted to thank the community for its continued support of the Sitka schools.
Currently the $195,000 generated annually in sales tax from marijuana sales goes into the general fund, the finance department said.
The ballot question ordinance was co-sponsored by Kevin Knox, Kevin Mosher and Rebecca Himschoot, who cited affordability as a barrier to student participation in after-school programs.
Knox, whose last day on the Assembly is Tuesday, said today he planned to continue to follow the issue even after leaving office.
“As a community member, as a parent and as someone interested community activities, I plan to stay involved,” he said.
