Assembly reverses assessor, restores Raven Landing community-center tax exemption after disputed accounting

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly voted 8-1 on March 27 to reverse a borough assessor decision that had denied renewal of a community-purpose property tax exemption for Raven Landing Community Center.

The reversal follows public testimony from residents and a presentation from the property owner's attorney and trustee, and a detailed staff explanation from Borough Assessor Cicely Manning who told the Assembly she found the community center produced income that exceeded its operating costs.

The vote followed a roughly two-hour staff-and-public exchange over accounting details. Pamela Weiss, an attorney representing Retirement Community of Fairbanks (the Raven Landing owner), told the Assembly the materials the assessor relied on were being misread and that the center and its catering operation showed losses. "The documents do not show that [rental/catering] generated a profit," Weiss said. She also said the only rental-related receipts were recorded under a catering category and that the audited forms submitted show net losses for the community-center functions.

Assessor Cicely Manning said her…