Wasilla City Council grills superintendent on new tax plan

WASILLA — Several sales tax issues stood out on Wasilla City Council’s regular June 26 regular council meeting. Mat-Su Borough School Board Superintendent Monica Goyette spent almost an hour reviewing and answering questions concerning a possible boroughwide sales tax to make up an estimated $11 million in next school year’s funding. Council members also approved two public hearings on a proposed penny increase on the city’s sale tax.

The meeting’s consent agenda included Ordinance 17-15. The ordinance calls for increasing the city sales tax from 2 percent to 3 for a two-year period. If approved by residents, the additional revenue would be earmarked for a construction of a new public safety (police) building and related equipment.

Ordinance language states the increase would last for two years or until $12 million is collected, whichever comes first. After that, the rate would fall from 3 to a permanent 2.5 percent which is a half-percent increase over the current two percent collected. The council approved setting public hearings on the proposed increase for July 10 and July 24.

The second tax topic concerned a proposed MSBSD sales tax. Currently, the borough is reviewing the request. With both the state and the borough flat-funding education for the 2017-2018 school year, and the district cutting costs as much as possible, it still faces a large deficit if it wants to keep current programs intact.

Earlier this year, the MSBSD approved asking the borough to put a sales tax proposal before the electorate. Goyette has noted in the past that the district cannot go directly to the voters to seek additional monies. The school board moved on the question in order to get it placed on the annual October borough elections. During her presentation, Goyette gave a synopsis of the district’s plan to make up the shortfall and also addressed any council questions.

Deputy Mayor Stu Graham and Goyette discussed the topic for more than 20 minutes.

Graham’s questions centered on the benefits of closing outlying, smaller schools, costs associated with online versus “in class” offerings. Goyette said the school board and administration did look at a variety of cost-saving measures.

“Small schools are great when we’ve got money,” said Graham. “But when it’s not there, you have to cut back.”

Goyette said it costs the district about $7,000 per year to educate a student at Colony High School. She said that cost more than doubles to $15,000 for a student at the considerably smaller Su Valley High School in Talkeetna. She said, for example, her board considered costs savings of closing Trapper Creek Elementary and bussing those students to Talkeetna. The district’s savings in such a move, she said, was approximately $50,000.

Mayor Bert Cottle asked city police chief Gene Belden to update the council on the ongoing K-9 replacement campaign.

Belden stressed the initiative has been taken on by the private sector and the department has nothing to do with it. He said officers will make an appearance at a planned July 8 event at Walmart. When asked how the contribution campaign is faring, Belden said ‘quite well.’ He said several small businesses have come across “…with a substantial amount of money.”

The department estimates it will cost $30,000 to $50,000 to replace “Marshal,” the department’s only K-9 officer, who succumbed unexpectedly this spring due to advanced cancer.

Graham asked Belden about a city neighborhood watch program and whether or not it still exists. Belden said the program hasn’t been active for some time. He said it was run through the borough when the city did have one. Belden said department members simply don’t have the time for a program restart.

In a last item directed at Belden, Graham said some time ago, he asked that the city’s code compliance officer to be a little bit more detailed in his report as to what’s going on in his department. Graham said he’s to the point of putting together a recommendation to the council that the city do away with that position.

“I’m just not seeing any accountability…what’s he doing out there,” Graham queried.

On the other side of the coin, Councilmember Gretchen O’Barr said she had utilized the officer and was quite impressed with the process.

Moving into action items, the council approved a contract with eight city employees represented by Alaska District Council of Laborers Local 341, along with zoning ordinance changes to two city lot designations.

In his report, Cottle said anyone wishing to utilize services inside city hall will have an additional hour to do so. From now through Sept. 11, the city hall will be open until 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Cottle said the city is trying to improve customer service and wants to test the idea. He said depending on feedback, it could become standard summer operating hours.

The council moved into closed session to discuss city clerk Jamie Newman’s annual evaluation. After reconvening in open session, trustees approved a salary increase of one step. Several trustees and Cottle noted Newman is doing an extraordinary job in the post.

Contact reporter Chris Ford at 352-2270 or chris.ford@frontiersman.com