It is with amusement that I read the City and Borough of Juneau Voter Information pamphlet on propositions 1, 2 and 3. These are all related to sales taxes.
As a senior citizen, I recently experienced the CBJ Assembly placing a 5 percent sales tax on seniors. When this happened, we were told that the CBJ would receive a million dollars in additional sales tax revenue.
At a recent meeting with CBJ Assembly candidates, someone stated that seniors make up 20 percent of the Juneau population. So imagine my amazement when I read that passing Proposition 2 would result in $25.5 million to the CBJ coffers. Can this be correct? I think that there is some creative thinking. Here is the math. If 20 percent of the population pays 5 percent and that results in $1,000,000, then the other 80 percent of Juneau residents at 5 percent would result in an additional $4,000,000. That is a total of $5,000,000. But wait the proposition is for a 3 percent sales tax. So if 5 percent tax equal $5 million, then 3 percent tax equals $3 million. Did you follow that? Did I make a mistake? I’m in the phone book, call me and I will walk you through this math problem.
So who is paying the other $22.5 million?
My guess is tourists and visitors. So why do we not pass a specific tourism tax and give the residents a break? It can be done, but only if the CBJ is forced to do so by the voters.
I realize that my numbers and calculations make some assumptions, but you get the idea that a lot of people are paying a lot of sales tax. Or perhaps there is a flaw in the CBJ’s assumptions.
So remember that slogan from the 1980s about the war on drugs? It can also apply to taxes. That slogan is “Just Say No.” That is what I am going to do. I encourage you to vote and follow my lead. It is time for the CBJ to make some internal cost saving changes.
I am a senior, and I do vote!
Rosemary Matt,
Juneau