The Assembly met Monday night to determine what will be on the ballot for the upcoming municipal election among other topics that scattered throughout the multiple hours of discussions. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Assembly OKs 3 initiatives to appear on local ballots

Sales tax extension and bond packages go to voters.

A municipal election lacking dramatic races will pose a series of multi-million-dollar questions to voters in October.

Juneau residents will get a chance to vote on three ballot initiatives that are set to appear on the City Borough of Juneau’s municipal election ballot this fall. The initiatives were OK’d for ballots Monday night during the regular Assembly meeting at City Hall, and each ballot initiative received varying levels of support from the public who attended the meeting and from members of the Assembly.

The ballot initiatives seek voter approval on a five-year extension of the temporary 1% sales tax the city already has in place to fund multiple projects, a decision on whether to approve $35 million in bonds to gotoward funding the construction of a new City Hall and lastly for voters to consider if the city should allocate $6.6 million in bonds toward funding the construction and equipment of park improvements at city parks. Voters will also get a say in whether the city repeals an ordinance that requires disclosing the sales price of property in the City and Borough of Juneau. That initiative is the result of petitioning from locals who oppose the requirement.

[Property buyers may again be able to keep prices secret]

The ballot initiative to decide if voters want to extend the already existing the 1% tax increases added to retail sales, rentals and CBJ services would provide funds for a wide range of city projects. If passed, the extension would immediately go into place the day after the current levy is set to expire at the end of September 2023 and extend it for the next five years.

[Candidates file for this fall’s local election]

The city estimates the 1% tax will accumulate around $60.2 million throughout its five-year lifespan, which then can then be used on projects such as affordable housing initiatives, child care support and less-observed projects like maintenance of CBJ and Juneau School District facilities.

Assembly member Maria Gladziszewski, who supported the ballot initiative, said if it is passed by voters, any allocations would have to come back to the Assembly to be thoroughly thought through before getting the go-ahead to be appropriated. It passed unanimously.

Voters will also get to divide decide if the city should approve $35 million in bonds that would provide funding for the construction of a new city hall. The proposed building would move the location of the current city hall over toWhittier Street, across the street from the state museum. The total project is estimated to cost around $41.3 million, which would require the $35 million bonds along with $6.3 million to be pulled from general funds, an amount that the Assembly has already allocated.

The current City Hall located downtown across from Marine Park is one of the most expensive municipal buildings for the city to maintain and costs $800,000 annually for the city to rent out, according to the city. Assembly member Wade Bryson said building of a new City hall would save the city more money in the long run. He said it would also provide opportunities for housing downtown by shrinking the five locations that the city uses for CBJ offices into one central location.

“I believe that the situation we have now is probably the worst thing we are doing in the city,” he said. “Using taxpayer money to pay rent should be criminal.”

Many members of the public chimed in to express their opinions on the ballot initiative, many expressing opposition to its construction.

Dave Ignell, a resident of west Juneau, expressed opposition for the bond initiative, citing other more pressing needs.

“I can’t fathom spending 35 million dollars on office space when other infrastructure needs to be addressed,” he said. “Take care of existing problems before starting to build new infrastructure.”

Gladziszewski and Assembly member Greg Smith were not in favor of the bond initiative, and both said it was not the right timing to build given the current cost of building materials and construction.

Ultimately, the initiative passed 7-2 and voters will decide if the bonds should be approved to finance the new City Hall, something Bryson and Assembly member Carole Triem said will save the city a lot of money in the future.

“The not do anything option will costs more over the next 30 years,” Bryson said. “Not doing something, we’re looking at $12 to 18 million for this building in the next four years and massive renovations — we’d pay more money than if we build City Hall now and build it correctly.”

“We really have explored every single option,” Triem said. “Given the current debt load as a city, it’s a good time to issue bonds because it won’t raise people’s taxes.”

Lastly, voters will be asked whether the city should issue $6.6 million in bonds to go toward the funding of construction and equipment costs for park improvements at city-located parks. The improvements would include turf and track surfacing for sports facilities at Adair Kennedy Park, the construction of a new public use cabin and area wide trail maintenance. Assembly member Greg Smith said he wanted to take it to the ballot for the public to decide because of the importance recreation is to the Juneau community.

The initiative was met with much public support at the meeting, including Ryan O’Shaughnessy, the executive director at Trail Mix Inc. who said putting funds toward trails is a “great investment,” along with two other members of the public who spoke in favor of the initiative. Trail Mix is a nonprofit dedicated to maintaining and improving Juneau’s trails.

Assembly members were split on the decision, many opposed it due to the lack of public process that the ordinance has undergone, and said it is too premature to take to the ballot yet. It passed by a 6-3 vote.

The CBJ municipal election is set to take place on Oct. 4.

• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807. Follow her on Twitter at @clariselarson.

​​​​

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. President Trump shared a quotation on social media, making it clear it was one he wanted people to absorb: “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.” (Al Drago/The New York Times)
Trump: ‘He who saves his Country does not violate any Law’

Quote sometimes attributed to Napoleon posted on White House’s official X account.

Members of the Alaska State Employees Association and AFSCME Local 52 holds a protest on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Alaska state employees rally for more pay and benefits on same day mass federal firings occur

Participants at state Capitol seek revival of pensions, release of state salary data withheld by governor.

Jonathan Rasch skates back to shore with his dog after spending hours looking for a man who fell through the ice on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, on Chilkoot Lake near Haines. Rasch was skating on the lake when he heard the man screaming for help and used his Garmin inReach to call for help. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)
After Haines man disappears, locals and state officials warn of the dangers of ice skating on lake

After Haines man disappears, locals and state officials warn of the dangers of ice skating on lake

A U.S. Forest Service office sign in Juneau on Feb. 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Trump’s federal layoffs hit wide range of Alaska agencies on Friday, with fears of many more to come

Murkowski: “Trying to get answers about the impact…but the response so far has been evasive and inadequate.”

A shelter staff member takes a dog who is currently boarding at Juneau Animal Rescue outside on Feb. 13, 2025. The animal shelter needs more space both outside and in, according to the executive director. It could also use a guillotine door to allow dogs easier access to the outdoors. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Animal Rescue hopes to be ‘feline’ the love at annual fundraiser

The shelter is still in need of a new building and hopes to continue educating the community.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

A building directory in Juneau’s federal building lists departments, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Forest Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Mass firings ordered by Trump administration, including nearly 10% of U.S. Forest Service

HUD plans 50% staff cut, scrutiny of “every dollar spent in serving tribal, rural and urban communities.”

Most Read