Yes on Proposition 1
Dear Editor: No one likes to see their taxes increase. The oil boom in the 1970s resulted in Alaska being one the wealthiest states per capita in the nation. The state shared its wealth with local communities. As a result of this influx of money, Sitkans have been fortunate to have some of the lowest tax rates in the state and in the country.
Oil prices were $151/barrel in 2008. Today, oil prices are $45/barrel. Production has decreased in Alaska. Alaska, a once wealthy state, is now in the middle of a budget crisis. One of the ways the state has responded to the crisis is to decrease money given to municipalities. The state has decreased Sitka’s yearly municipal revenue sharing over $625,000. In addition, the federal government is no longer funding the secure rural schools program. This has resulted in a loss of nearly $1,000,000 per year. Sitka’s expenses have increased due to the Blue Lake Dam project and revenues have decreased because electrical consumption has declined.
The city has responded to this loss of revenue by cutting 4.5 jobs and will reduce spending for a total savings of approximately $850,000 this year. However, even with draconian reductions, the city will not be able to cut its way out of the budget shortfall. The Sitka School District funding from the city will inevitably have to be reduced.
Last year, the city created the Citizens Task Force to recommend ways to balance the budget. After much study, the Task Force felt that raising the millage rate 2 mills was a fairer and more stable source of revenue than raising the sales tax. To moderate the additional financial burden on Sitkans that will result from the 2 mill tax increase, the Assembly passed an ordinance (that will go into effect if Proposition 1 passes) that will place money into an electrical rate stabilization fund. If Proposition 1 fails and money is not transferred to this fund, electric rates are predicted to go up approximately 15 percent.
There will be a large informational ad in this Friday’s Sentinel that will explain Proposition 1 in more detail.
Susan Litman, Sitka
Electric Funding
Dear Editor: I appreciate the nice people on the Assembly who care about Sitka and are looking for solutions. My concern is the dedication of property tax funds to the electric budget. Fairness to the residential property tax payer is in question. Moving property tax revenues to the electric fund is inefficient use of local tax money. It is reverse Robin Hood behavior in my opinion.
Residential users (the little guys) pay 73 percent of the property tax. They use less than 40 percent of the electricity. Non-residential users are the big guys. They include federal, state, and local governments as well as some business users. If property tax pays for electricity, the money goes from the little guy to the big guy. Many big users get a lower rate, may not pay sales tax or may pay tax at a lower rate. I don’t see any reason the little guy should subsidize the government users. If there are businesses that might fail or move away because of electric cost, taxpayer help is a reasonable idea. An Assembly plan that subsidizes federal and state government electric rates is inefficient and inappropriate use of property revenue.
We have serious money problems in Sitka. There have been no good alternative financial plans offered by the city administration. Funding and spending alternatives need better transparent discussion. I am reminded of aromas on summer childhood train rides through the stock yards outside Chicago when I hear city officials blame the electric fund problems on a “warm winter.”
Making “winners” and “losers” with a “Grand Bargain” will divide the town.
Robert Carlson, Sitka
Prop 1 Evolution
Dear Editor: I believe in our responsibility to pay for the services our city government provides and I also believe that Sitka’s revenue stream was overloaded with sales tax and underloaded with property tax when compared to most communities in this country. In its earliest versions, the ballot proposition to increase our property taxes would have allowed the Assembly to increase the mill rate 2 mills per year up to a maximum of 12 mills. I was definitely against this proposal due to its potential to double our property taxes within two years and one day. Then the Assembly scaled down the proposal to a level that only allowed a 2 mill increase. I could support this more reasonable increase in my taxes and was ready to vote yes on the Assembly-passed voter referendum. Then the Assembly saw fit to do two things that changed my mind. The first was to authorize the city to spend almost $50,000 of our tax dollars for advertising to convince us to vote for their property tax increase. To me, it smells pretty darn bad when the Assembly puts something on the ballot to increase our taxes and then spends our tax money to convince us to support that tax increase. The other deal breaker for me was when the Assembly passed an ordinance that said, if Proposition 1 passes, they will use some of the proceeds of the higher property taxes to augment the electrical budget (which is supposed to be a standalone enterprise fund). The way I read this one is the city says they need up to 2 mills more in property tax to make ends meet but then is willing to use some of that increase to lower costs to the citizens in the form of subsidized utility bills. Maybe they don’t need all of the 2 mills after all. Too much like our government taketh from us and then giveth some back. I will be voting no on Proposition 1.
Steve Ramp, Sitka
Paper, Plastic, Cloth?
Dear Editor: I do use cloth bags. I carry them in the car, but sometimes I forget to bring them in, or maybe I forget to put them back in the car. Then I ask for plastic.
I don’t know what others do with plastic bags, but I think I’ve done well. I use the produce bags (would these be included?) to wrap scraps I hold inside or in the freezer until it is time to put the garbage out, I also use them for pet waste, and to put the stems of flowers in when I take them to a friend.
I use the larger bags for many things. I ask clerks to use them for chicken and the like before going into my cloth bags. And I use them for delivering gifts at holiday time. I save them and give them to the Salvation Army Little Store to use – that’s recycling I think.
There was a time I preferred paper and, in some cases, I still do. I use smaller bags for storing begonias in the winter, and the bigger ones I take apart to use for wrapping paper – just in case I should buy something in Sitka and use the postal service for mailing – works very well.
What would we use instead? We have a Blessings in a Backpack program here – the food doesn’t go in backpacks until delivered. Would cloth be sustainable for this?
I will be keeping an eye on the paper to see how this idea proceeds.
Alice Wolcott, Sitka
Please, Slow Down
Dear Editor: Your life matters even in an election year. Please, slow down and stay alert. Commutes are so short in Sitka you’d be better off investing in slip-on shoes than speeding or driving recklessly. This behavior seems really unusual to see in fall/winter. Please, slow down.
William The Giant, Sitka
Food Bank
Dear Editor: Special thanks to Sitkans who responded so generously to the recent drive at Sea Mart to re-stock the Salvation Army Food Bank. Sitka Lutheran Church facilitated collection of the food and cash in support of the Salvation Army.
We know it is important to work together to meet the needs of people. We believe God meets us where we are and we need to pass that on collectively.
One-thousand two hundred pounds of food and $783 were donated by Sitkans shopping at Sea Mart.
On behalf the Salvation Army and Sitka Lutheran Church we say THANK YOU to Sitkans for supporting the food drive for the Salvation Army Food Bank.
Majors Turnie & Evadne Wright (Salvation Army)
Sheila Lawson, Helen Cunningham, Pastor Sandra Rudd
(on behalf of Sitka Lutheran Church)
First Responders
Dear Editor: I’d like to extend thanks for the excellent and compassionate actions of many members of the Sitka community in late August when I broke my leg on the Indian River trail.
These include the 911 dispatch operators, the Sitka Fire Department, the ambulance attendants, the staff at Sitka Community Hospital, the folks at the airport who assisted me onto the plane, the proprietor of my rental housing who allowed me a late checkout, the kind woman who found and returned the cell phone which my sister-in-law lost on the trail in the course of the evacuation, and most particularly to the outstanding members of the search and rescue team who came to my aid and evacuated me down the trail over the course of more than six hours.
One could not ask for a better group of first responders! It is yet another example of why Sitka is one of my favorite places in the world to visit. You have the deepest gratitude of my family and myself.
Jean Millican, Seattle, Wash.
