Unofficial municipal election results released just before midnight Tuesday show Proposition 2 likely to pass, while the other two ballot measures show narrower margins. The Assembly contest is neck and neck, and a race for the three Board of Education seats remains close.
Today’s results are not final. Only ballots cast through Monday 6 have been counted. Preliminary results include 6,073 ballots, about 22% of registered voters.
The outcome could shift as more votes are tallied, according to Municipal Clerk Breckan Hendricks. The city will release another round of unofficial results on Friday, and the certified count will be out Oct. 21.
Mill rate cap narrowly ahead
Preliminary counts for Proposition 1 show 3,104 yes votes and 2,920 no votes, giving the “yes” side a 184-vote lead.
The measure would amend the city charter to reduce the property tax cap from 10.24 mills to 9 mills. For a property valued at $500,000, that change would save the homeowner about $80 per year in property taxes, according to the City and Borough of Juneau’s estimates. CBJ projects a roughly $1 million reduction in tax revenue if the measure passes.
Sales tax cuts on food and utilities pull a wide lead
Proposition 2 has strong support so far, with yes votes amassing over two thirds of the total vote. Yes votes are at 4,173 compared with 1,867 no votes.
Proposition 2 seeks to remove the 5% sales tax on essential food and city utilities for all Juneau residents.
The Affordable Juneau Coalition led the effort to get Propositions 1 and 2 on the ballot. They argue that, “Few cities require sales tax on food, water, electricity, and fuel oil, but Juneau does.”
CBJ calculated that the city would lose between $5 and $6 million in revenue from food sales and between $4 and $5 million from utilities if the measure passes.
Seasonal sales tax votes fall behind
Proposition 3 trails by more than 1,000 votes, with 2,514 yes and 3,534 no votes.
Proposition 3 would create a split-rate sales tax, changing the 5% year-round rate to 3% in winter and 7.5% in summer. The goal of the proposition is to shift more tax burden onto tourists, while keeping rates steady for permanent residents, Assembly members say.
CBJ says that if Proposition 2 and 3 were both to pass, “net impact on municipal revenue is estimated to be minimal.”
Brooks ekes ahead of Bryson for Assembly seat
Nathaniel “Nano” Brooks leads in the Assembly race over Wade Bryson by just three votes, the tightest race of the night. Brooks has 2,743 votes and Bryson has 2,740.
This is Brooks’ third campaign after two unsuccessful runs, and Bryson is seeking his third term on the Assembly.
District 1 incumbent Greg Smith and areawide incumbent Ella Adkison both ran unopposed and are set to retain their seats.
Whitney, Cullum and Johnson lead in Board of Education race
Steve Whitney leads with 3,197 votes, followed by Melissa Cullum with 2,428, and Jeremy “JJJ” Johnson with 2,366.
Sixty-four votes behind Johnson, Jenny Thomas falls in fourth with 2,302 votes, and Deedie Sorenson, a write-in candidate, has 1,317 votes.
The two candidates with the most votes will fill full-term seats, while the third-place finisher will serve a partial term.
