Boroughwide sales tax goes down in flames


Published on Thursday, October 8, 2009 6:16 PM AKDT

One thing the proposed boroughwide sales tax appears to have accomplished is increase participation in the local election by attracting 21 percent of the more than 50,000 registered voters. That’s a vast improvement over the special election that drew 7 percent, but still a disappointing turnout given the magnitude of impact this ordinance could have had on Valley residents if passed.

What it didn’t accomplish is get itself passed.

It’s obvious the vast majority of people simply didn’t believe their tax burden would be eased. They also, rightly believed, the tax proposal as written benefited distant land owners, national business chains and Anchorage playground owners more than it did locals. All the previous named entities would enjoy a property tax break, but would not help pay the bills with a sales tax because they don’t shop here like locals do.

Many residents figured out while their taxes on their house or business might drop in the short term, they would be nickeled and dimed on groceries, heating bills and other necessities.

Then the proponents of the bill forgot to figure in all those people who live in Palmer, Wasilla and Houston who already pay sales taxes. Why would they want their taxes doubled when they get absolutely nothing more for the increase?

A 3-1 vote against the sales tax indicates people wanted more clarity, or maybe they just didn’t believe their property taxes would stay down. There’s also a general mistrust of local government right now. With three new members on the assembly, maybe the trust can be restored.

This is also a time of economic unease. So timing could have played into the result as well.

Maybe that’s why the school bond issue failed too.

In the future, a sales tax will come up again and likely a school bond.

These issues need to be given a full airing at as many town halls as possible so the assembly members can get a good idea of what will fly and what won’t. Just putting a new tax proposal on the agenda won’t cut it and the assembly should have learned that lesson before now.

It’s understandable the borough government would like to have more than one revenue stream, but the little guys out there need to be assured their taxes won’t go up while distant owners’ and large corporations’ taxes go down.

Transparency is an overused word these days, but it certainly will need to play a much bigger role the next time the assembly decides to change they way we pay taxes in this borough.

Comments

10 comment(s)

    Bettini wrote on Oct 10, 2009 10:02 AM:

    " Bettini has termed out. She can NOT run for Borough Assembly next year. However, I would keep my eye on her. She will probably go for Mark Newmans seat next. Big Lake! WAKE UP! GET INVOLVED because your decision to not get involved are hurting the rest of us! "

    offsoapstone wrote on Oct 9, 2009 11:39 AM:

    " Doesn't matter who's on the asembly the sales tax will be back sooner or later. Glad this one failed. "

    District 5 voter wrote on Oct 9, 2009 11:05 AM:

    " Congratulations and a big thank you to the voters of Districts 3 and 6 for disposing of Church and Wells. I am looking forward to doing my part for the rest of the borough by sending Bettine packing when she comes up again. "

    Walk the walk wrote on Oct 9, 2009 10:44 AM:

    " The changes to the assembly and shooting down our homeowners only likely chance of lower property tax makes the choir of hate mongers, name callers the true villains they are. Get off your dead butts and start attending assembly meetings with good ideas for improving our valley and leave your spit at home! The only thing that seems to motivate some is a good brawl. Find your civil voice and bring some positive input if you have any. I suspect the personal attacks is all you got for ideas. "

    Power Wagon wrote on Oct 9, 2009 9:36 AM:

    " Hey Cindy, you might want to polish up your resume! "

    Brian wrote on Oct 9, 2009 9:02 AM:

    " Bettine and Houston are the names to remember from this. It isn't enough to just say "vote them out". We need people willing to serve in these positions that listen to the people not the pollsters.
    The mayor seemed to get it. Maybe they will respect him and appreciate him more in the future. The voters sure seemed to! "

    Bye Socialist wrote on Oct 9, 2009 8:53 AM:

    " Bye Church, Bye Wells and so long Cindy as soon as possible, thanks for trying to lead us into a truly socialist Borough. You have done enough now so crawl under your rocks and hide, your legacy is not a good one. And so much for the Friends of Mat Su, you seem to be a very small interest wrapped up in a smaller package. Thank goodness people are waking to your type of waste and self interest service for the minority at the expense of the majority, guess you heard it this time, correct? "

    Be worried wrote on Oct 8, 2009 11:14 PM:

    " If I were Cindy Bettine, I'd be very worried for next year. Church and Wells put their names on the sales tax initiative and people let their votes be heard. Bettine led the sales tax charge. Don't forget that when she is up for reelection next year - but I'm sure she'll change her tune come election time. "

    LOL wrote on Oct 8, 2009 8:36 PM:

    " The sales tax has now failed six times since 1991 but the MSB budget continues to go up every year. Almost every borough service except road maintenance needs to be cut. Our Assemblypeople seem oblivious to the concept that our residents want smaller less intrusive government. This election should be a wake up call. Next year we need to retire tax and spend liberals Pete Houston and Lynn Woods and then Cindy Bettine in 2011. At the MSB sales tax meeting the people clearly told you could not have both a sales and property tax, you should have listened. "

    Palmer Farm wrote on Oct 8, 2009 8:28 PM:

    " Gee...imagine that... "

WRITE A COMMENT

Use the form below to post a brief comment to this story, or respond to other readers. Please use the word count tool to assist you in keeping your remarks to 100 words or fewer.

Comments must be approved by an editor before appearing on the Web site. Editors review submitted comments periodically during the day for offensive or off-topic content before posting. Your thoughtful contribution to the online discussion is appreciated.

(optional)
Current Word Count:
   




Classifieds




Make Us Your Homepage