Budget and tax mill rate

We passed the budget and tax mill rate on Monday. I want to reflect just a bit on our property tax rate. The Assembly voted to keep it the same as last year. But some Assembly members want to reduce it. Now, everybody wants to pay fewer taxes-- or no taxes at all-- but you can't reduce city revenue without an impact. Cutting taxes means cutting services. It means cutting back on libraries, parks, education, ice skating, swimming, law enforcement and all the other city services. There is a vision of government put forward by some that believes we should have no more than police, fire, roads and sewers. I do not hold that view. I believe Juneau wants to maintain and increase its quality of life. We want to make Juneau a better place to live -- and that means having youth activities, maintained trails, sports programs, and good schools.

Every two years the Assembly, assisted by the League of Women Voters, surveys Juneau residents on their attitudes about city services and spending. We have done these "Budget Surveys" since 1991, and I encourage you to look at them. These surveys give us the best idea of what the broad cross section of Juneau citizens think about our level and quality of government. Mostly people say they like city services at about the level they are now -- but this past year many called for increasing spending on youth activities and recreation! People in Juneau want a good quality of life, and that is what I support. Cutting back on the quality of life by reducing city amenities and services will lead to the decline of our great city and I oppose that.