Signatures for second petition to raise mill rate cap due Wednesday, Assembly scheduled to consider school and utility bond measures on Thursday

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

Juneau residents will likely vote on imposing an additional 1% sales tax between April and September after a petition putting the measure on the Oct. 6 municipal election ballot was approved Friday by the city clerk’s office.

The Juneau Assembly has 45 days from the date of certification to adopt "substantially similar legislation," according to a notice posted at the city’s website. Otherwise the initiative will appear on the ballot.

Supporters say their intent is to reverse some of the revenue loss to the city resulting from two tax-cut measures passed last year, with the most significant of them exempting food and utilities from the local sales tax that’s currently 5%. Those measures are expected to cost up to $12 million during the coming year, while city Finance Director Angie Flick estimates the seasonal sales tax would generate $6.9 million during the six months it is in effect.

The language on the 1% tax petition states its intent is to fund recreational programs. Petitioners submitted 3,231 signatures by a June 5 deadline and the clerk’s office determined enough were valid to meet the requirement of 2,566 certified signatures, representing one-fourth of the votes cast in the most recent local election.

A second citizens' petition seeking to restore the property tax cap to 12 mills, after voters lowered it to nine mills last year, has until Wednesday to turn in signatures.

A special Assembly meeting via Zoom is scheduled at noon Thursday, during which an update on the citizen petitions is scheduled as well as two bond measures Assembly members are considering. One is for up to $16 million for school improvement projects, the other $9.4 milllion for water/wastewater infrastructure upgrades. However, some Assembly members have expressed concern about the bond being on the same ballot as the citizen tax measures – along with the renewal of a 3% sales tax also expected to appear.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.