The Ketchikan School District and Ketchikan Gateway Borough budgets are back in front of the Borough Assembly on Monday.
The Assembly approved both in first reading during its May 2 meeting. Members get another look at them on Monday, and the public will get a chance to weigh in during each ordinance’s public hearing.
The approximately $40-million school district budget likely will see some proposed amendments. During the last Assembly meeting, there was debate over how much to allocate for in-kind services. Those are services provided and paid for by the borough, but counted as a school-related expense.
The borough’s approximately $53-million budget was introduced during the last meeting without any amendments, although members talked about eventually raising property tax rates.
The Assembly likely will discuss a recent decision by the state Legislature’s Conference Committee that would affect the borough’s expected revenue. According to the borough, the committee agreed to not distribute about $16 million in cruise passenger head taxes to coastal communities affected by cruise traffic. The Ketchikan Gateway Borough’s share of those state head taxes was to be about $2 million.
The borough budget limited expenses related to CPV funds, but still would see an approximately $380,000 deficit if the committee’s decisions stands.
Also on Monday, the Assembly will consider adopting an ordinance that would increase airport rates for after-hours services, and would pass the cost of credit card fees to ferry passengers who use cards to pay the toll.
Monday’s meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in Borough Assembly chambers at the White Cliff building. Public comment will be heard at the start of the meeting and during public hearings.
