Keep Juneau a livable community

By Jeff Gnass

As a property owner you have already made an investment in Juneau. Vote no on ballot measures 1 and 2 to continue making Juneau a livable community and not limit the value of your investment.

Property tax caps create unstable local finances which could reduce the ability of the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) to raise sufficient revenue to meet evolving community needs, especially during economic downturns or after natural disasters. The recurring summer glacial flooding has created a new "normal" for Juneau in the natural disaster realm and requires sufficient financial reserves to mitigate. The growing dependency on tourism for CBJ tax revenue creates an unreliable revenue source given the global economic factors that can easily impact the number of cruise ship visitors to Juneau.

Limiting property tax revenue could require CBJ to cut staffing, which would impact essential services like education, public safety and infrastructure. It would also result in cuts to libraries, arts and culture, senior living, and public transportation, all which make Juneau a livable community.

To compensate for lost property tax revenue, CBJ would have to turn to other revenue sources, such as increased sales taxes and user fees for services like trash pickup, snowplowing, docks and harbors, and parks and recreation. Such fees would make the CBJ tax system more regressive and place a greater burden on lower-income residents and households. Furthermore, an increase in sales taxes to make up for CBJ revenue shortfalls would significantly burden Juneau should a statewide sales tax be enacted.

Property tax assessment caps lead to long-time homeowners paying significantly less than newer homeowners on comparable properties. This creates an unfair tax system and can delay homeownership for younger generations. Long-term homeowners who benefit from a low, capped tax assessment may feel "locked-in" to their homes and be discouraged from moving, because buying a new house would reset their assessment to the current, higher market value. This can restrict housing supply and affordability, an issue that CBJ has constantly struggled with, and an issue that directly confronts younger people deciding to choose Juneau as their livable community.

• Jeff Gnass is a resident of Juneau who supports and volunteers at many activities in the community. He just finished the WalkSoutheast Challenge for the fifth year, and thanks CBJ Parks and Recreation for creating this program to promote a healthier community.