Petition to raise Juneau’s property tax cap back to 12 mills gets enough signatures for city clerk review

Mark Sabbatini
Jun 17
2 min read

Proposal gets 2,986 signatures; 2,566 certified by clerk are necessary for measure to appear on Oct. 6 municipal election ballot

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

Supporters of a ballot petition raising the cap on Juneau’s property taxes to 12 mills instead of nine — effectively undoing a rate cut passed by voters a year ago — turned in enough signatures by Wednesday’s deadline to merit a review of their validity by the city clerk’s office.

A total of 2,986 signatures collected during a 30-day period are in the petition books, according to a statement at the city clerk’s website. A total of 2,566 certified signatures — equal to one-quarter of the votes cast in the last local election, are needed for the measure to qualify for the Oct. 6 municipal election ballot.

The clerk’s office has 10 days to review the signatures. If the petitions are short of the required amount they will have 10 additional days to collect additional signatures to meet the certified minimum.

The language on the proposed change states "reducing the property tax millage rate cap has added pressure for cuts to beloved services, programs and facilities enjoyed by the families and citizens of Juneau."

City leaders said the actual revenue loss during the coming year appears to be small due to higher property assessment values, but there is significant concern a lower mill rate cap will prevent the Juneau Assembly from raising it if necessary to cover unexpected or emergency needs.

The Assembly on June 8 approved a mill rate of 9.92 for fiscal year starting July 1, 0.32 mills lower than the current rate. Half of the reduction was due to the cap passed by voters last year, while the rest applies to debt service, which is excluded from the mill rate cap.

Another petition implementing a 1% sales tax from April 1 to Sept. 30 already has enough certified signatures to make the ballot. The Assembly can enact a substantially similar policy by July — 45 days after the signatures were certified — otherwise it appears on the fall ballot.

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