Collecting Signatures to Fund Services I Like.
I'm gathering signatures and get a couple items on the CBJ ballot in the fall.
This article provides some background on the efforts: Juneau voters chose to cut local taxes last election. Now, some residents want them back.
I thought Stuart Cohen wrote a great op-ed as well: It’s your city; stop dumping on it
Essentially, we've had the same mill rate cap and sales tax regime since I was in high school. Last year we voted to change that and poked a $10-$12 million hole in our city budget. That's annually. So we're talking $120 million over the next decade which is quite significant.
The city went through a series of public meetings and they've been weighing cuts so you've probably been getting an earful about all the potential disasters ahead for services many of us love... The Field House, Treadwell Arena, Eaglecrest, City Museums, Arts Funding, Pools, Libraries etc, etc..
The two signature gathering efforts sprung up without any initial coordination but I think they do dovetail nicely and represent a good compromise solution that keeps exemptions on the table for food and residential utilities but gives the city more maneuverability and forces less drastic cuts in years ahead.
If you want to get into it more in depth, let's talk. I'll be collecting signatures at the Alaska Robotics Gallery on Tuesday(5/19) 10am-5pm, Thursday(5/21) 10am-2pm, and Saturday(5/23) 3pm-5pm.