At a glance: Juneau assembly passes budget, mill levy, CIP and a slate of ordinances on June 9

The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly on June 9 adopted the FY26 operating budget, the property tax mill levy, the FY2026–2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), several CIP transfers and a slate of ordinances and resolutions. Many items passed by unanimous consent after committee review; a few drew discussion or recorded roll-call votes.

Key financial votes

- The assembly adopted the FY26 operating budget ordinance (Ordinance 2025-01 B) appropriating $535,301,600 in expenditure authority for FY26 operations (excluding the school district). The ordinance recognizes forecast revenue and a draw from fund balance as presented by the manager. (Adopted by unanimous consent.)

- The assembly adopted the mill levy ordinance (Ordinance 2025-03 B) establishing a total millage of 10.24 mills for calendar year 2025 (an increase of 0.2 mills from FY25 adopted), with area-wide, routed service and fire service components as presented by the manager and finance committee. (Adopted by unanimous consent.)

- Resolution 3090 B: The assembly adopted the capital improvement program (CIP) for FY2026–2031 and established FY2026 CIP priorities as required by charter section 9.4. (Adopted by unanimous consent.)

Water, utilities and airport

- Ordinance 2025-27: The assembly adopted an ordinance increasing rates for water and wastewater utility services (staff recommended a 5% annual increase for customers through July 1, 2029, supported by non-rate revenue for later years). The manager noted the ordinance uses fixed amounts rather than the code’s existing outdated line and clarified the apparent year-one percentage difference as a code-update issue. (Adopted by unanimous consent.)

- Ordinance appropriating $295,000 to reimburse Temsco Helicopters for airport capital improvements (Temsco tied its septic work to city wastewater infrastructure on airport property). (Adopted by unanimous consent.)

- Ordinance appropriating $300,000 for airport riverbank stabilization to replace armor rock lost in an August 2023 glacial outburst flood; city plans to apply for state grant reimbursement. (Adopted by unanimous consent.)

CIPs, transfers and grants

A series of housekeeping transfers and project appropriations passed, including but not limited to: - Transfer and appropriations related to electric bus charging infrastructure and fleet reserve realignment. - Appropriation of $7,830,000 in a loan from ADEC’s Clean Water revolving fund for outburst-flooding improvements (installation of Hesco barriers and related site work). (Adopted by unanimous consent.) - A transfer of $1,400,000 to expand Hesco barrier phases following updated hydraulic modeling. (Adopted by unanimous consent.) - Transfer of funds from completed CIPs (Centennial Hall study, Crow Hill radio site improvements) into deferred building maintenance and public safety communications infrastructure. (Adopted by unanimous consent.) - Appropriation of $160,000 for runway safety area shoulder grading funded by passenger facility charge fees. (Adopted by unanimous consent.)

Other ordinances and items adopted

- Ordinance 2025-16: Amendments to the Historic Resources Advisory Committee code language. (Adopted by unanimous consent.)

- Ordinance 2025-04: Codification and housekeeping changes to commercial passenger vehicle regulations (formerly in regulation). (Adopted by unanimous consent.)

- Ordinance 2025-06: Amendments to criminal offenses and penalties to add an offense for assault in the presence of a child to align with state changes; intended to provide prosecutors with additional tools to address childhood exposure to domestic violence. (Adopted by unanimous consent.)

- Ordinance 2025-10: Housekeeping changes to the alcoholic beverage code to align penalties with state law changes (Senate Bill 9 reclassification of some offenses). (Adopted by unanimous consent.)

- Ordinance authorizing a lease of the Floyd Dryden Building to the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Tribes for early-education uses (lease at less than fair market value consistent with CBJ code 53.09.270(b)). (Adopted by unanimous consent.)

- Ordinance appropriating $400,000 for Statter Harbor roof repairs to replace aging roof, add fall protection and snow guards. (Adopted by unanimous consent.)

Votes and debate

Most routine budget and CIP items were adopted by unanimous consent after committee review. The Telephone Hill appropriation (see separate article) drew the most extended public comment and a recorded roll-call vote. A mayoral amendment and several late budget amendment attempts were discussed during the operating budget motion; some proposed reductions were withdrawn or defeated in committee and on the floor.

How the assembly handled votes: Many of the ordinances and transfers were moved and passed via unanimous consent, which the clerk recorded. Where recorded roll calls were held, the clerk’s roll-call results appear in the transcript. The assembly did not adopt a motion to extend the meeting past its scheduled end time.

Ending: The assembly completed a broad slate of fiscal and housekeeping work required by charter deadlines (budget and mill levy by June 15; CIP adoption) and advanced multiple capital projects, funding transfers and code updates. A number of these actions will require staff follow-up, grant coordination and implementation steps in the coming months.