An ordinance to increase this year’s spending authority of the Ketchikan School District is in front of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly on Monday.
The district requested an increase from about $42.7 million to about $45.1 million. The increased costs are related to a new teacher contract approved last fall. The first year of that three-year contract covers the 2017-2018 school year, and the district needs to provide back-pay for salary increases and adjusted health insurance premiums.
During its April 1st meeting, the assembly introduced the ordinance, but reduced the requested spending authority by about $512,000. That’s the cost of insurance reimbursement.
The ordinance is up for a public hearing and second vote on Monday.
Also Monday, the assembly will hold a public hearing and second vote on an ordinance approving various appropriations. Those include about $80,000 for school building insurance; $100,000 for a previously approved new South Tongass fire engine; about $600,000 from the airport’s passenger facility fee and airport enterprise fund to pay for airport improvements; $50,000 for Forest Park Service Area pavement and culvert work; and $50,000 to finish the Public Works maintenance building.
In other matters, the assembly will hear an update from Alaska Department of Transportation officials about the Gravina Access improvement project.
The assembly also will discuss a proposed jewelry exemption to the single-unit sales-tax cap.
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.
