The Juneau Assembly voted to raise your property taxes — again. They did this while the cost of living continues to climb, while residents struggle to keep up with rising utility bills, food prices, and housing costs, and while the city’s own reserve accounts remain flush with millions of dollars.
Let’s be clear: this decision hurts. It hurts homeowners and renters. It hurts seniors on fixed incomes. It hurts working families already stretched thin. And it sends a loud message that city hall isn’t listening.
I work for a living. So do you. Whether you’re behind a desk, on a boat, or running a small business, you’re doing your part. But what happens when those in charge stop doing theirs? What happens when our government forgets that it’s supposed to serve us, not the other way around?
This property tax increase represents a growing disconnect between those who govern and the people who pay the bills. This isn’t just a tax hike — it’s about the real impact on the people who make this town work. Families choosing between groceries and utility bills. Seniors deciding whether to heat their homes or refill a prescription. Young professionals wondering if they’ll ever be able to afford a home here. These aren’t hypotheticals. They’re real decisions happening every day in our community.
That’s why we’re circulating three petitions right now — to restore balance and bring real affordability and accountability back to Juneau.
The first petition will cap property taxes, so people aren’t forced out of their homes due to skyrocketing assessments and ever-rising mill rates. You deserve predictability and fairness — not yearly tax increases because the city can’t set limits on spending.
The second petition will exempt groceries and utilities from sales tax. Food is a necessity, not a luxury. And in Alaska, heat is not optional — it’s survival. Families shouldn’t be taxed just for putting dinner on the table or keeping the furnace on. These exemptions are basic steps toward a more fair and affordable tax system, especially for working-class and fixed-income households.
The third petition is about restoring poll-based voting. Our current vote-by-mail system is expensive, time-consuming, and delays election results by weeks. Poll voting is secure, faster, and familiar. It produces results the same night, costs less, and rebuilds public confidence in the integrity of local elections. It’s time to return to a system that works — for the voters and for the city budget.
Some will argue that we can’t afford these changes. But with over $30 million in reserves, that simply isn’t true. What we can’t afford is more of the same: a government that hoards taxpayer money while asking you to pay more every year.
The current system hits working families the hardest. It’s regressive, it’s unsustainable, and it’s driving people away. If we want to keep Juneau livable — not just for the wealthy, but for teachers, nurses, fishermen, caregivers, and retirees — we need to act now.
We don’t have years to wait. We have days. If we don’t gather enough valid signatures by the end of this month, these initiatives won’t make the ballot. That’s why your participation matters — right now. Volunteers will be out in parking lots and neighborhoods so if you haven’t signed yet, now’s the time.
When I talk to people across Juneau, I hear the same thing: folks love this place, but they are not sure they can stay. They’re proud of our trails, schools, and neighborhoods — but they feel like the system is working against them. That their voices are being drowned out.
That’s why these petitions matter. We all want a city that works. But a city that works starts with a government that works for all of us — not just those with influence and access. These initiatives are a path forward. A way to restore common sense, fiscal sanity, and public trust.
It’s time to demand better. It’s time to protect what makes Juneau special — by ensuring that the people who live and work here can afford to stay here.
I work for a living. I need a government that works for me. So do you.
• Angela Rodell is a member of the Affordable Juneau Coalition.
