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New fiscal plan in the works
May include new taxes
One of the authors of the fiscal plan rejected by voters last fall says to expect another one to emerge within a week to ten days. That after a briefing with former Governor Jay Hammond in the Capital lastweek. Hammond was a vocal critic of last year's plan that called for use of Permanent Fund earnings to the detriment of the dividend. Juneau Representative Bill Hudson (right), who was a guest on KINY's Capital Chat this morning, said the plan will try to conform to as many of Hammond's concerns as possible. He says the modified plan will not touch the dividend, but explore new taxes, including a sales and income tax. Other possibilities include the Governor's suggested increased fuel tax and greater taxes on the oil industry. Hammond is calling on the Legislature to pass a measure that guarantees that 50 percent of Permanent Fund earnings is distributed as dividends. Any surplus earnings after inflation-proofing the fund, can then be spent on state government, according to Hammond's plan. Hudson says the forthcoming plan would have no appreciable impact on the Permanent Fund Dividend. He doubts this one will be sent to voters. Hudson said a lot of the communications he's receiving from constituents call on lawmakers to make those touch decisions.
A fire was reported at the Kodzoff Trailer Court Saturday night. The alarm came in at 11:15, according to Glacier District Volunteer Chief Max Mielke, who says heavy smoke was coming from the structure when fire fighters arrived on scene. He says the fire was contained to the bathroom and adjacent hallway for the most part, although there was smoke and heat damage throughout the trailer. Damage was estimated at about $30,000. No injuries were reported. The owners, a young married couple, had no homeowner's insurance. The cause remains under investigation.
The six people killed in the crash of the Iliamna Air Taxi Cessna 206 near Dillingham in Southwest Alaska over the weekend have been identified. They are 47-year-old Pilot Scott DeWitt of Iliamna;48-year-old Henry Anelon, Senior, a village public safety officer; 74-year-old Pavela Wassillie, and his wife, 67-year-old Mary Wassillie; and granddaughters 15-year-old Tina Wassillie and 18-year-old Kristy Lamont. All of the passengers were from Newhalen. An Army National Guard helicopter reached the crash site near Music Lake Sunday afternoon. The Cessna 206 set out Saturday afternoon for the 50-minute flight from Iliamna to Koliganek, which is 65 miles northeast of Dillingham. It was reported missing at 6:40 that evening. Weather at the time was heavy snow with near white-out conditions. Troopers say the poor weather delayed the search until Sunday. A National Transportation Safety Board team is headed to the crash site and will try to determine a cause. Terrain at the site is described as flat and open.
It was a week ago today when Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crashed in the Pacific off Southern California killing all 88 people aboard. Five of the victims were from Alaska. Navy crews mapping the debris more than 600 feet deep are finding human remains. Officials say 30 to 50 bodies eventually may be identified. A memorial service is scheduled today in Fairbanks for native leader Morris Thompson, his wife Thelma and daughter Sheryl. The service is scheduled for 4:00pm at the Carlson Center.
Assembly Meeting Preview
A change to the sales tax code to allow greater taxation of government goods and services is on tonight's agenda of the Juneau Assembly (right). Finance Committee Chair Dwight Perkins says the change will result in an additional $120,000 in revenue next fiscal year according to estimates provided by city Finance Department. The ordinance takes effect 30 days after adoption with the exception of Capital Transit and Eaglecrest. The levy for Eaglecrest and Capital Transit would be delayed until after June 30th to allow for a transition. In other cases, including the taxation of goods and services by the state and federal governments, the ordinance takes effect 30 days following adoption. In those cases the sales tax will be added to only government sales to private buyers. State and federallaws don't allow imposition of a local sales tax. The exemption for other local governments will remain in place in order to maintain Juneau's role as a regional leader and good neighbor, according to Perkins.
A measure up for action at tonight's Assembly meeting imposes more stringent penalties for the failure of pet owners to control their animals. The offense of "Objectionable Animal" regulates such nuisances as barking, snapping and chasing. The fine is increased to up to $200. Current ordinance already provides for a mandatory court appearance on the third offense rather than just paying the monetary fine. The ordinance up for action this evening does not change that rule.
There are three resolutions on tonight's Assembly agenda. One lends support to the Transportation Plan proposed by Governor Knowles that calls for the use of $350-million of bond funding. That plan involves the use of a fast ferries in Southeast, including one in Northern Lynn Canal, rather than a road up the east side of the canal to Skagway. Another resolution requested by DIPAC asks the Alaska Fish Board to reject recent proposals for changes to its rules on salmon production and cost recovery. The other resolution re-establishes the Tourism Advisory Committee by implementing changes in its role with creation of the Assembly Planning and Policy Committee.
The Assembly will also be asked to sign off on a bid award for parking and pedestrian improvements at Statter Harbor at Auke Bay during tonight's meeting. Arete Construction is the apparent low bidder with a bid of just over $329,000. The base bid includes construction of a new approach road from the Glacier Highway to a reconstructed parking lot. An appropriation ordinance up for action provides $950,000 of the Port Fund Unreserved Fund Balance for repairs and upgrades to the Steamship Wharf.
The federal body that regulates commercial fishing off Alaska will be meeting in Anchorage beginning Wednesday to consider one of the most divisive issues to emerge in years -- what to do about halibut charter boats. A major association of commercial halibut fishermen went to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council in 1993 asking that it place a cap on how much halibut the charter boats can catch. The council has the authority to divide the halibut catch off Alaska. And it has wrestled with ways to do just that without badly hurting the growing, tourist-driven charter boat industry. By the end of this week, the 11-member council hopes not only to set a cap for the charter boats but to choose some potentially painful measures that will keep their catch under that limit.
Native activist Desa Jacobsson has ended her food fast. Jacobsson began her fast January 10th and ended it Friday night. She was trying to draw attention to the subsistence rights of Alaska Natives who live in urban areas, where subsistence hunting and fishing are prohibited. Jacobsson and Alaska Federation of Natives President Julie Kitka say they will take Jacobsson's message to Washington this week and hold a series of meetings with Clinton administration officials. Jacobsson and three other Natives staged a protest last August by fishing for salmon in a Juneau pond (left) where subsistence fishing is prohibited. Jacobsson was the Green Party's candidate for Alaska governor last year.
A Ketchikan man was killed late Saturday when his truck went off the North Tongass Highway and struck a tree. The Alaska State Troopers say 20-year-old Jerome Galley was pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers say he was wearing a seat belt.
British Columbia's chief justice is taking early retirement. Bryan Williams says he will leave the bench at the end of April. He denies his conduct is under investigation -- and says reports he viewed pornographic material on his office computer are untrue.
A nonprofit group formed by the British Columbia Steelhead Society to fix streams with government money is being investigated for alleged mismanagement of funds. A confidential report obtained by the Vancouver Province newspaper says the society and its offshoot, the Habitat Restoration Corporation, may have to pay back large amounts of money. Government auditors last week raided the Vancouver offices the society shares with the restoration group. Three high-profile members of the corporation's board of directors, including former federal fisheries minister John Fraser, have resigned along with at least eight members of the Steelhead Society's board and the entire staff.
Two Juneau Douglas High School wrestlers won state titles in Fairbanks over the weekend. Seniors Gary Reid and Garrett Schoenberger did that with wins in their matches during the Alaska StateWrestling Tournament. Juneau placed 10th overall with Service High of Anchorage claiming the team title.
The Juneau-Douglas high school men's basketball team marked the beginning of homecoming week with a sweep of North Pole over the weekend. The Bears won Saturday 69 to 45, and 84 to 74 Friday night. Colony swept the women Bears -- it was 49 to 44 Saturday and 50 to 33 Friday.(Captions for our photographs can be viewed by hovering over them with your mouse pointer)
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