Property Tax Increase
Dear Editor: I have been reading the letters to the editor for support of a 2 mil increase in property taxes. I understand the city and state’s financial crisis and am in support of us all pitching in, but have some questions as to the bigger picture.
In the last year or so, the city said they were going to be updating appraisals on property in Sitka with the expectation that it would generate about $1 million in additional revenue. I am curious where they are on this project. There has also been talk about taxes for vehicles, doing away with the senior exemption, removing taxes on groceries and raising rates in other enterprise funds.
While I understand trying to help people with the removal of sales tax on groceries, I believe we lose much more without having the ability to collect that tax from the visitors/charter clients, etc.
Before I can get on board in support of 2 mil property tax increase, I would need some assurances from the city, that more taxes/fees/rate increases weren’t imminent so I could get a better feel for what it truly is going to cost me to continue to live in Sitka. (I was born and raised in Sitka.)
Deanna Rogers Bennett, Sitka
