The Juneau Assembly had a regular meeting Monday night to vote on whether to require nonprofits to charge sales tax, discuss ordinances related to glacial outburst flood mitigation and evaluate the city manager and city attorney’s pay.
Here are some highlights from the meeting:
• The Assembly voted to indefinitely table an ordinance that would have required nonprofits in Juneau to charge sales tax for goods and services.
The proposal came about in recent months as the Assembly looks to find new sources of revenue for the city. The city is struggling to maintain current services following a reduction in revenue after tax cuts last election. However, at the meeting, leaders from more than a dozen nonprofits testified against the ordinance, including the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, Sealaska Heritage Institute, Juneau Dance Theatre, Alaska Folk Festival, Boy Scouts of America, Perseverance Theatre and Juneau Animal Rescue.
Some testifiers shared sympathy for the Assembly’s desire to increase city funding. But they argued the ordinance would place unfair administrative and financial strains on many already lean, volunteer-run organizations. Several testifiers also called the ordinance vague and confusing, and said they worried about potential unintended consequences that might come from it. The motion to indefinitely table the ordinance passed in a 6-2 vote, with Assembly member Neil Steininger and Nano Brooks voting against it.
• The Assembly unanimously approved several ordinances related to glacial outburst flood mitigation and funding repairs to HESCO barriers.
• The Assembly also approved pay hikes for the city manager and city attorney. The Assembly discussed the increases during an executive session that was not open to the public during the meeting. Both City Manager Katie Koester and City Attorney Emily Wright received a 3% wage increase and a $2,000 lump sum payment. The increases boost Koester’s annual salary to $243,462 and Wright’s annual salary to $214,925.
Assembly member Nano Brooks was the sole member to vote against the increases, arguing they were too much.
Check back in to KTOO.org to see more in-depth coverage of Assembly issues.
