Site Logo
Angie Flick (center), finance director for the City and Borough of Juneau, provides details of an early draft of next year’s municipal budget to Assembly members as City Manager Katie Koester (left) and Budget Manager Adrien Wendel listen during a Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night in the Assembly Chambers. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Assembly members prepare to retreat so they can move ahead on next year’s budget

“Very draft” $190 million spending plan for FY25 based on status quo has $1 million deficit.

Wade Bryson, a Juneau Assembly member, explains why he favors giving local businesses a “sales tax holiday” for at least one day next year, targeting Feb. 29 as a suitable date, during the Assembly’s Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night. The committee voted to hold onto the proposal for further study rather than sending it to the full Assembly. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

A local sales tax holiday? Don’t pack your shopping bags yet

Proposal to waive taxes for a day or two each year isn’t a quick sale to most Assembly…

Leaders at Bartlett Regional Hospital discuss staffing matters during a board of directors meeting Oct. 30 in the hospital’s administration building. The board is among several city governing bodies seeking new members. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

News

Lots of local seats of power are open, for those who can stand up to the pressure

Planning commission, board of equalization, hospital board, JDEC among current CBJ openings.

A petition calling for non-renewal of assessor Michael Dahle’s contract at a Haines store. The petition gathered nearly 500 signatures in about a week. (Lex Treinen / Chilkat Valley News)

News

Haines Assembly ends assessor’s contract after 600 residents petition for removal

Michael Dahle formerly worked as a deputy assessor in Juneau.

Juneau Assembly members cast an informal vote during a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night about the volume of cruise tourism they want to see in Juneau in future years. Mayor Beth Weldon (left) and Assembly member Greg Smith (middle) cast neutral votes essentially favoring an as-is approach, while Michelle Bonnet Hale, Paul Kelly and Ella Adkison suggesting they prefer lower numbers than the record 1.66 million passengers that visited this year. Votes by the other four members included one as-is and three “thumbs down,” for a 6-3 vote in favor of the city’s tourism director exploring a strategy for 2026 and beyond that results in fewer annual cruise visitors. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Most Assembly members express preference for fewer cruise visitors after record season

In 6-3 informal vote, members ask tourism director for reduction strategy for 2026 and beyond.

Rock fill safeguards homes along the Mendenhall River on Sept. 3, a month after record flooding from Suicide Basin caused extensive damage. Concern has been expressed by some residents who paying for the fill to protect their homes that others who opt not to do so will increase the risk of another flood causing further erosion. One property owner who has not done so said it makes no sense for him to spent that money since his home was destroyed, and isn’t getting sufficient assistance or insurance to replace it. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

City meeting to update Mendenhall River flooding issues and answer public questions set for Monday

In-person, remote and written testimony being accepted by Assembly’s Committee of the Whole.

Shane Krause, left, who lives aboard a boat in Juneau, testifies in opposition to a 9% increase in docks and harbor fees during an Assembly meeting on Monday night as Deputy City Manager Robert Barr, City Manager Katie Koester and City Attorney Robert Palmer listen. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

9% increase in nearly all docks and harbors fees approved by Assembly

5-4 vote comes after some residents express concerns about costs to liveaboards and fishers.

(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion

Opinion: Juneau Assembly attempts ‘end run’ around voters

“Information is one thing, but weighing in on an election is another.”