Juneau Residents Fight Tax Cuts, Save Services

0:00It's April 29th. You're listening to Anchorage News today, AI-powered local news. I'm Cory with the story. Two groups of Juno residents just filed citizen ballot propositions to rollback tax cuts voters approved last fall. Those measures capped the property tax rate and Nick sales tax on food and utilities, slashing city revenue by 10 to $12 million a year. Now the budget's hurting bad. The city assembly is staring down cuts to over 40 services, from closing pools and rec centers to trimming grants and even the local museum. With the fiscal year kicking off July 1st, they're scrambling to balance the books without that cash flow. Folks are fired up, saying these cuts kill what makes Juno special like family soccer at the field house or kids splashing in pools. Parents worry it'll hit their little ones hardest, turning a great town into just another spot. One group wants to scrap the mill-ray cap outright to bring back steady revenue.

1:00Meanwhile, the other pushes a 1% sales tax bump just for the summer tourist rush, May 1st through September 30th, mostly hitting, cruise crowds to save rec spots. Both proposals head to legal review and clerk certification next. If they pass muster, the followers have 30 days to snag 2,566 signatures for the October 6th ballot. Should be a game changer if they pull it off.