Assessment Notice Is Not a Tax Bill

I think most of know this but it's good to be reminded.  Taxes, the actual amount of money you will pay, depends on the mil rate set to raise the revenue needed to provide government services: education, fire protection, ambulance, police, roads, snow plowing, ports, harbors, pool, elections, visitor services, library, musuem, facilities maintenance...and yes, tax assessment.  The mil rate in turn depends on the amount of local revenue needed to provide the services.  It can only be set AFTER the Assembly examines the budget and understands the revenue projections.

So please participate, along with the Assembly and the borough staff, in the budget process.  Here is the schedule of budget meetings.  Prior to the actual legal introduction of the budget ordinance at a formal meeting, the Assembly meets as a Committee of the Whole, called affectionately, a "COW." These are informal sessions where we attempt to understand the Manager's proposal and to provide feedback. Remember, until the budget is adopted by the Assembly and becomes "our" budget, it is "the Manager's budget."  It is his job to prepare and present it to the Assembly.

All meetings will take place in the Assembly Chambers at the Public Safety Building.

Tuesday, 4/9/13, 4:30 PM: COW topics include: Budget Introduction, General Fund Overview, Revenues, Fund Balances, Economic Trends, Allocated Expense, School District, Library, and Museum.

Tuesday, 4/16/13, 5:30 PM: COW topics include: Public Wordks, Public Facilities, Solid Waste, Sinking Funds, Ports/Harbors, Capital Projects, Road Maintenance Service Areas, Parks, Community Youth Development, Pool, Fire Service Areas, Medical Service (Ambulance/Mental Health), Water, Sewer.

Tuesday, 4/23/13, 4:30 PM: COW topics include: Administration, Assembly, Elections, Finance, Assessment, Information Technology, Lands, Chilkat Center, Economic Development/Tourism, Debt Service Funds, Dispatch, Police, Animal Control, Passenger Vessel Tax Funds.

Tuesday, 4/23/13, 6:30 PM: Introduction of Budget Ordinance at regular meeting. These meetings begin the process of formal alterations to the budget the Manager has development.  Amendments may be proposed and adopted throughout these next meetings, but the budget can be amended ONLY through a formal process.

Tuesday, 5/14/13, 6:30 PM: First Public Hearing of the Budget Ordinance

Tuesday, 5/28/13, 6:30 PM: Second Public Hearing of the Budget Ordinance. The budget may be adopted at this meeting or it may be set for a third public hearing before adoption.

Tuesday, 6/11/13, 6:30 PM: Third Public Hearing (if needed).