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RMSA recommends renaming subzone, flags code mismatch and senior‑tax exemption impact; schedules follow‑up meeting
Summary
The RMSA board recommended the assembly change code references from 'Eagle Vista' to 'Eagle Bluff (with Carina Avenue)', discussed that senior/veteran property‑tax exemptions remove some parcels from RMSA funding (about $600,000 of value cited), and scheduled a follow‑up code‑clarification meeting for April 29 at 4:00 p.m.
The Haines Borough RMSA board voted to recommend that the borough assembly amend code language to replace references to the subzone name “Eagle Vista” with “Eagle Bluff” (keeping Carina Avenue where applicable), and discussed two related policy matters: a longstanding mismatch between practice and code for Chilkat Lake Road billing and the fiscal effect of senior/veteran property‑tax exemptions on RMSA funding.
Nicholas (speaker 6) proposed the motion that every place in the code where the subzone is called “Eagle Vista” be changed to “Eagle Bluff” (with the road names that identify the area). The motion was seconded and approved by the board.
Members also asked whether property owners who qualify for senior or veteran property‑tax exemptions are exempt from the RMSA portion of property tax. A staff member responded that qualifying owners are also exempt from the RMSA portion; the meeting noted that in the last tax year about $600,000 of assessed value in the Eagle Vista subzone was exempt under the provision. Board members said that concentration of exemptions can materially raise the per‑owner mill rate for remaining taxpayers in small subzones and recommended the assembly or staff research statutory and code options rather than attempting a local change at the RMSA level.
Separately, board members raised that earlier board practice of billing multiple subzones into a common maintenance fund (for example, contributing to maintenance of Chilkat Lake Road) is not reflected clearly in current code text. Staff and board members agreed to ask borough staff to locate historical records and draft a code amendment that matches prior board decisions or, if necessary, to clarify the practice in code.
Finally, the board scheduled a follow‑up meeting to continue code and funding review; participants agreed on April 29 at 4:00 p.m. on the borough calendar. The board closed the meeting after public comment and adjourned.
