News of the North- Two tax-related propositions will appear on Juneau’s municipal ballot this fall. One seeks to cap the city’s property tax rate at nine mills, plus any extra needed to pay off voter-approved debt.
“The cap on the mill rate will make Juneau more affordable,” local attorney Joe Geldhof said. “Instead of just raising property taxes and getting more revenue, they’ll have to start making some considered choices on what it is Juneau really needs.”
Another proposal would include a sales tax exemption on groceries for personal consumption and sales of heating fuel, including wood, wood pellets and fuel oil for non-commercial use.
“For years now, the politicians down there have been talking about eliminating taxes primarily on groceries, and they never get around to doing it,” Geldhof said. “Pretty much everybody says, gee, why should a low-income or middle-income family pay sales tax on an essential like food or on their heating fuel? And a bunch of us finally decided they can’t figure it out, so we’re going to.”
Both initiatives aim to lower the cost of living.
A third petition to reinstate in-person voting didn’t gather enough signatures.
“By-mail voting is convenient in one sense, especially for the bureaucrats,” Geldhof added. “It also turns out to be fantastically more expensive than the old way where you’d go to your polling station. It also turns out to be way slower.”
City officials warn these changes could cut millions from the city’s budget, potentially leading to reduced services, Property taxes make up roughly 40% of the city’s general fund revenue.
Voting in this year’s municipal election ends on Tuesday, Oct. 7.
