Economic Development Commission recommends approval of Pleasant Valley 2 Rivers volunteer fire group's community-purpose tax exemption

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Economic Development Commission voted 5-0 on April 15 to recommend that the Borough Assembly approve a community-purpose property tax exemption for the Pleasant Valley 2 Rivers Fire Association, also known as 2 Rivers VFD.

The recommendation came after a brief presentation by Ryan Danhauser, deputy assessor, and a period of questions focused on ownership, tax responsibility and the applicant’s operations. Commissioners voted to forward a recommendation of approval to the assembly; the recommendation does not itself change property tax status and an assembly member must sponsor any ordinance or resolution that would implement the exemption.

Danhauser told the commission the applicant, Pleasant Valley 2 Rivers Fire Association (Volunteer Fire Department No. 31382), had paid the nonrefundable $300 application fee, submitted required supporting materials and filed on parcel 0225860 under Fairbanks North Star Borough Code 8.08. He said the association is not the property owner; the parcel is owned by Badger Road Baptist Church. Danhauser also said the applicant had provided a certificate from the State of Alaska recognizing it as a volunteer fire department; the certificate had lapsed on Dec. 31, 2024 but the assessor’s…