The borough’s general fund operating budget for the fiscal year that started July 1 totals about $7.25 million, with the biggest pieces going to police services, the Public Works Department, and to pay expenses at the Nolan Center and parks and recreation department.
The budget, approved by the assembly June 27, includes just over $1 million to help fund operations at the Nolan Center ($360,000) and Parks and Recreation programs ($685,000) which are not fully covered by user fees and other income.
The spending plans for the center and Parks and Recreation are essentially flat from last year’s budget.
Construction and other public works projects, such as replacing the water treatment plant, are tallied separately from the general fund operating budget, as are the borough-owned and operated utilities.
Bolstered by a better than 50% increase in total assessed property values this year, the borough was able to institute a 24% cut to the tax rate as part of the budget, negating the higher taxable value for many — but not all — property owners.
Rate increases for water (10%), sewage (15%), electricity (1%), trash pickup (5.5%) and harbor fees (11%) are also reflected in the budget.
Assembly Member David Powell suggested two cuts to the budget, which were adopted, and two other proposals, which he withdrew. Discussion among borough officials and assembly members indicated that these two suggestions were not feasible or would not have passed. He was the only assembly member to propose any amendments to the budget.
Powell moved to eliminate the borough’s $53,000 contribution to share the cost with the state of an Office of Children’s Services caseworker in town. The assembly members that were present unanimously approved the change, with the understanding that Borough Manager Jeff Good would return with a budget amendment later this month for a lower contribution of $25,000.
Assembly members Brittani Robbins and Ryan Howe were not at the meeting.
Powell also moved to cut funding for police overtime, from nearly $60,000 to $30,000. “We were told that if we had a full staff that we weren’t going to have that much overtime involved,” he said. “I’d like to take that down and if it turns out to be more, we can come back with a budget amendment.” The assembly unanimously approved the reduction.
The assembly did not go along with Powell’s suggestion to fund only half of the Public Works Department assistant position. Good hopes to transition this job from part-time to full-time, and Powell suggested cutting funding to the position after six months.
Assembly Member Anne Morrison said it would be “cleaner” to leave the funding as is, and Powell withdrew his motion.
Powell also suggested cutting the $50,000 appropriation for a soils environmental assessment required by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), arguing that “if we’re not going to do it this year, I don’t see why it’s in our budget.” Capital Facilities Director Amber Al-Haddad explained that the assessment is part of an ongoing and lengthy process to fulfill DEC requirements for areas in the borough with contaminated soils.
“I don’t want to drop this,” Mayor Patty Gilbert said of the budget item. “It’s a placeholder. It’s not bothering me at all.” Powell withdrew his motion.
Morrison commended borough officials on their work. “It is probably the most understandable and readable budget we’ve had in five or six years,” she said.
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