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Kodiak assessor, KANA tour six villages to help seniors and disabled veterans file property tax-exemption forms
Summary
Kodiak Island Borough assessor’s office and the Kodiak Area Native Association elder services visited six remote villages in November to help elders and disabled veterans complete and timely file real property exemption applications, bringing in a majority of known applications in most villages.
The Kodiak Island Borough Assessor’s Office and the Kodiak Area Native Association’s elder services program traveled to six remote villages in November to help village seniors and disabled veterans complete and timely file real property tax exemption applications.
"The Kodiak assessor's office and the Kodiak Area Native Association combined efforts to assist village seniors and disabled veterans to fill out their and timely file their real property exemption applications," Kodiak Island Borough Assessor Seema Groot said during the assembly meeting on Feb. 27.
The outreach team—Groot, Cassie Keplinger of the Kodiak Area Native Association (KANA) and Penny Bosche (KANA elder services coordinator)—visited Akiak, Larson Bay, Old Harbor, Port Lions and two other villages identified in the presentation. Keplinger told the assembly that KANA’s elder services program was created in February 2022 and is funded through the Administration for Community Living Title VI program and the Kodiak Community Support Foundation.
KANA staff said they provide nutrition assistance, case management and help elders access services. Bosche described logistical coordination with Island Air Services, tribal governments, city officials, and village partners to meet the borough’s Jan. 15 filing deadline and arrange travel and meeting spaces in villages.
Groot reported that of the six villages visited, the team returned more than 60% of the exemption applications in five villages; in three villages the return rate exceeded 80%. Assemblymember Ryan asked whether the numbers could be separated between seniors and veterans; Groot replied that "Honestly, all but 1 is a senior. We only had 1 disabled vet that lives in a remote village." Groot said that while in the villages the one disabled veteran called other veterans he knew to tell them about the program.
Groot also said the assessor’s FY2026 budget includes funding to allow one employee to travel to each village so the outreach can continue.
Assembly members thanked the team for the effort and urged continued partnership between the borough and KANA. Assemblymember Whiteside and others said they supported expanding services to villages so residents off the road system receive equivalent attention to those on the road system.
The presentation materials included an Excel spreadsheet listing village-by-village contacts and a set of photographs of village events. Groot said staff used reminder postcards, an assembly day calling outstanding applicants and home visits to reach people who lack reliable mail or internet service.
The assembly did not take a formal vote on a policy change during the presentation; the session served as a report and request to continue remote-travel funding for assessor outreach in FY2026.
Looking ahead, Groot said the outreach team will present about the project at the borough’s rural forum on March 26.
