[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6576167,"mediaKeyId","3164184-05c08ba417e954a7197ac749db33d378","parentId",3164184,"title","Assembly holds charter-required public hearings on FY26 budget, sets local school funding and refers city budget items to finance committee","audioSeconds",157,"startMs",763000,"endMs",920000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3164184-05c08ba417e954a7197ac749db33d378&start=763&end=920","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3164184-05c08ba417e954a7197ac749db33d378/thumbnail_763000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6576167/Juneau-City-and-Borough/Alaska/Assembly-holds-charter-required-public-hearings-on-FY26-budget-sets-local-school-funding-and-refers-city-budget-items-to-finance-committee","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576167-7a6dc0289ef5137fc378cb78df968f8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145927&Signature=na6lHVgbcH1V6FvGU09DmJfAlTY6v7zWHCtkOrGTszEP62VV2PUD0rr7086qtOTArRZo4M-IBCsxUxxXFG4t74geB2PZZl1poT97tdE~EPsRGLXu78aVdkOZXg71cTXeCPsy7oj28MeylaIrz3l08iD~l3b6eTN7UKy8hOFzlC6Gz98la49Msk~OiSQmmcLm~VQB48nCIZFRoHa-dmVk3vYIKko69qVTXftG3pMpsZZycvvf4yb~3aa2vAFErJWmFJM3uAHIk~14fuvK7mjlHKYfJD-tqeAzE6VDVN~TijkXXSc-XhvPTFIzZKLxjvSJ0A4HaYyyk9trewx4zdNyJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Juneau City and Borough","date","2025-05-01T05:06:34.553Z","article","The assembly held charter-required public hearings April 30 on several FY26 budget items — the property tax mill levy, the school district operating budget and the city and borough operating appropriation — and referred each ordinance to the Assembly Finance Committee for additional review.

For the property tax levy, the clerk introduced Ordinance 2025-03, which proposes a total FY26 mill levy of 10.19 mills, a 0.15‑mill increase from FY25. Staff explained the mill components as an area‑wide mill of 6.35 (up 0.15), a road service area mill of 2.45 (flat), a fire service area mill of 0.31 (flat), and debt service at 1.08 (flat). The manager recommended holding the charter‑required public hearing and referring the ordinance to AFC; the assembly voted by unanimous consent to do so.

The assembly also heard Ordinance 2025‑02 to appropriate school district operating funds for FY26. Staff reported a proposed school operating budget of $94,977,500 — an increase of $9,580,100 from the FY25 amended budget — and explained that the school budget is supported by a mix of CBJ local funding and state and federal sources. The assembly set the assembly’s minimum local funding amount for the school district at $35,004,700 (motion by Assemblymember Bridal) and referred the ordinance to the finance committee for further review. The chair noted that by charter the assembly must appropriate the school district budget no later than May 31.

Finally, for municipal operations the assembly heard Ordinance 2025‑01, which would appropriate $536,715,800 in expenditure authority for the City and Borough of Juneau’s FY26 operating budget (excluding the school district). Staff said the ordinance recognizes about $517,079,600 of forecast revenue and would draw down fund balances by $19,636,200; they recommended holding the public hearing and referring the ordinance to the Assembly Finance Committee. Assemblymember Steininger moved referral and the motion passed by unanimous consent.

The assembly also held a public hearing on Resolution 3090, the FY26–31 Capital Improvement Program, and voted to refer the resolution to the Assembly Finance Committee for review. Committee and staff members reminded the public that these hearings are procedural and that further opportunities for public comment will occur during the detailed budget and finance committee process.

Ending: The referrals mean the Assembly Finance Committee will review and may amend mill levies, appropriations and the CIP as part of the FY26 budget process and return recommendations to the full assembly before charter deadlines in May and June.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Assembly Mtng for Public Hearing on CBJ & School District Budgets, Mill Levy Ordinance & CIP","oneSentenceSummary","At a special April 30 meeting the assembly held required public hearings on the FY26 mill levy, school and municipal operating budgets; it set the minimum local education funding amount and referred the proposed mill levies, city budget appropriation and CIP back to the Assembly Finance Committee for further review.","taxTitle","Juneau City and Borough, Alaska","taxId",13703,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576172,"Assembly finance committee approves debt-plus-5% rate path for water and wastewater",4700,1331000,6031000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3164184-05c08ba417e954a7197ac749db33d378&start=1331&end=6031","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3164184-05c08ba417e954a7197ac749db33d378/thumbnail_1331000.jpg","/articles/6576172/Juneau-City-and-Borough/Alaska/Assembly-finance-committee-approves-debt-plus-5-rate-path-for-water-and-wastewater","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576172-c0d48abc5091a84d9409e470a93dfe1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145927&Signature=G~fFXjcG2Hb0E6jPXRGzR3AxSaoH9GyJM8gM5vQe0Ja0PoJPwdNqORyO7qklnQz80t8NKb7bSV6eyom-JcVtg7NE9erj1GKGDkQ0~6v9yjaEa2k8e4AiE4MfI5J3G22omnoAngICuVq8-3-YF7MuIhwUCQI9jxZog1~OVNf7uPnHdZloeGm5Yo4GCJlds7s7ML2c9fWw7KiAzPVZzHztsrp8SoPofdO3ehIW0ai7Gzy5ourVerlX1Wi~-FJ81cGm-HB9-I4VjMww-QoII7de7I1clfZwUaGG13X0WTKTm02u~TRV5hiH6V0Sm0wP~gQKkDTnXdbuUvLlIAAJAhSaHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Assembly Finance Committee voted 6–2 on April 30 to approve “scenario 4” for the city’s water and wastewater utilities — a package that combines state revolving fund (SRF) loans with annual 5% rate increases to cover a reduced capital-improvement plan and spread costs over time.

The committee’s action follows a presentation from consultant Paul Quinn and staff describing capital needs, projected operating gaps and multiple funding scenarios. Quinn said the reduced capital plan includes about $26 million in water projects and $39 million in wastewater projects over the multi-year study period, and that the utilities currently generate some annual cash flow but face a shortfall for average capital spending (roughly $4 million/year for water and $5 million/year for wastewater).

Quinn said the updated analysis lowered previously projected rate pressure slightly, but even the updated ‘‘cash-only’’ scenarios would have required double-digit annual increases for several years. By combining roughly $4.5–5.0 million in SRF loans with targeted rate increases, staff and the consultant modeled a path that limits annual increases to 5% while deferring some projects and seeking outside funding later to avoid a larger immediate spike in rates. The package approved by the committee assumes a 20-year SRF loan term at about 2.75% for modeling purposes and relies on additional outside funding beginning in 2028 to keep the 5% cap sustainable.

Committee members pressed staff on why the community faces the shortfall now. Superintendent Maguire and Manager Kester said much of the system is 40–50 years old; Kester noted the city paused a prior 1% capital spending program and that inflation and deferred maintenance have compounded funding gaps.

The committee heard repeated staff and consultant warnings that under the reduced capital plan the utilities are deferring roughly 90% of the identified capital needs outside the current study period; staff said a further infusion of cash or additional borrowing likely will be needed after 2028 if projects are to proceed. Quinn estimated that keeping annual rate adjustments at 5% would require roughly $4.3 million (water) and $12.4 million (wastewater) in outside funding in a cash-only approach; with SRF loans those outside needs fall to roughly $900,000 (water) and $8.5 million (wastewater). He summarized the combined need for the two utilities at about $17 million (cash option) or about $9.4 million (with SRF loans).

Mayor Weldon moved the committee’s preferred scenario — debt plus 5% annual increases — and the committee approved the motion 6–2. The roll call recorded Mayor Weldon, Assemblymembers Hall, Atkinson, Kelly, Smith and Chair Bryson voting yes; Assemblymembers Hughes Scandies and Steininger voted no.

The committee’s vote sends a rate recommendation into the budget process; staff told the committee changes adopted tonight would be reflected in FY26 budget materials and that the assembly will have additional opportunities for public comment. Staff and the consultant also noted the choice involves tradeoffs: SRF loans can lower near-term rate pressure but add federal/state procurement and project requirements that can raise construction costs, while a cash-only approach requires larger near-term increases.

Quinn and staff emphasized these are modeled scenarios and that details (loan amounts, exact timing of rate changes and any supplemental funding sources) would be refined as the budget process proceeds.

Ending: The committee directed staff to continue working with the consultant on the budget paperwork and to return final ordinance language and implementation details as the assembly’s budget schedule requires. The committee also discussed potential ballot or assembly actions later this year to secure non-rate funding options (temporary sales tax allocations or bonds) to reduce longer-term rate pressure.","After a detailed presentation and hours of questions, the Assembly Finance Committee voted 6–2 to move forward with a rate plan that combines low-cost state loans and annual 5% increases for water and wastewater to fund a reduced capital plan and avoid larger near-term rate shocks.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Assembly holds charter-required public hearings on FY26 budget, sets local school funding and refers city budget items to finance committee

Assembly finance committee approves debt-plus-5% rate path for water and wastewater