Letter to the Editor
Property taxes
Published Saturday, April 5, 2008
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To the editor:
The 8,000 families of Fairbanks still have the highest property taxes in the state. They still subsidize the downtown business area with their residential property taxes. Our state legislators in Juneau have more control over residential property taxes than our local government.
The school board is proposing a $20 million school maintenance property tax bond. The City Council is considering new fees and taxes. The Downtown Association is going to ask for a $21 million residential property tax bond to “revitalize the downtown business area.”
We still have 25,000 people coming into this city every day to go to work, shop, seek medical service, travel and address government needs. Every summer we have thousands of tourists and temporary workers coming into the city. Residential property taxpaying homeowners subsidize all of the above projects and people. They also have to pay the rising costs of owning homes, fuel oil, electric and gas bills.
This city needs a revenue source that taxes everyone who uses the services of this city. During the past 25 years, more than $50 million in public and residential property tax money has been spent “revitalizing the downtown area.” The box store area, Old Steese Highway area, College Road, South Cushman Street, Van Horn Road, University Avenue and Airport Way have all “vitalized, revitalized,” themselves without residential property tax bonds. If the downtown building business owners want new roads, sidewalks, lights, let them form a tax district and issue bonds on their property the way residential home owners do.
The 8,000 families of this city cannot afford to subsidize the downtown area for the next 25 years. The October ballot with candidates and bond issue will start in August; think about all of the above and the cost to you.
Community Discussion
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Why not just put toll gates at the city limits and charge admission?
Just read where it will cost $50.00 per trip to drive into London, come on Fairbanks quit raping the little guys and exempt single family homes for your income.
Just bulldoze downtown Fairbanks. The only thing there are city offices, borough offices, state court building, attorney offices, school district offices and a few businesses that cater to the tourist trade. The only worthwhile business that has what Alaskan's need is Big Rays. If those offices do not support the businesses, then maybe the business owners need to consider whether or not their services are needed or if thier choice of locaiton is wise.
At one time downtown was a thriving area. That has been destroyed by the people wanting to revitalize downtown. Times have changed, maybe its time to move on.
I will not be supporting anymore bonds for downtown Fairbanks. Look at the mess the construction made out of third avenue! The parking places are impossible to plow in winter and people get tickets for parking on the sidewalk...when they can't see the curb for the snow.
If the business owners in downtown Fairbanks want to see things improve, get rid of the drunks, have decent parking and have services that people want.
I agree with Valari, why give the same break to a company that is for profit? I would call there expenses a cost of doing buisness, that I guarantee one way or another they will pass along to there customers.
Big Ray's and The Art Gallery are the only businesses downtown that locals seem interested in. The rest cater to the tourist trade-so charge the tourists for downtown improvements-since they are geared toward the tourists!
I agree this should not be a special interest bond issue. How do we grow a community if only one segment benefits? The Downtown Association put limits on where the CSP van will go to help people. Granted they fund part of it but they wanted it just for the core just their area. Any bond issues should benefit all of us. (Up on the soap box) broaden the Tax base, more people, more area, equals better city and lower taxes.
Yeah i agree there is not really anything downtown i care to go see. I know its nice to have the old historic and original Fairbanks but i think it just looks crapy. So let the downtowners pay for it. Another thing i think walmart needs to be taxed to hell and back just for the simple fact they make the girl scouts stand outside to sell their cookies.
I think the downtown area has a lot of potential and would like to see it more active. In my travels, I've seen a lot of places that were enjoyed equally by tourists and locals. (The Baltimore Inner Harbor is one example.)
Going downtown can be a hassle but that's were I go when I want Italian, Thai, or Japanese food. (Number one bento, yeah!) There's other places downtown I'd like to go but finding a parking spot and walking any distance with a bad knee is difficult.
I don't know what the answer is but I know Fairbanks residents need to proceed with caution. I prefer to shop locally but I'll bet I can get everything I need or want without ever setting foot inside the city. After all, the Internet is a wonderful resource and I'm sure North Pole establishments would appreciate my business.
Yea,get rid of yhe drunks.that will solve everything-pffff.
If I were a tourist and all I seen was downtown I wouln`t want to come back to alaska---BORING!(I capitalize for more EMPHASIS!)
Yea,get rid of the drunks.that will solve everything-pffff.
If I were a tourist and all I seen was downtown I wouln`t want to come back to alaska---BORING!(I capitalize for more EMPHASIS!)
Well, Joe, most folks don't come to Alaska to see a midsized town. They come to see the scenery and to explore nature -- something they probably can't get at home.
It'd be nice if Fairbanks could levy a tax on businesses with say, more than 50 employees Outside. That might force a few of the chains out and open the door for smaller businesses.
A great idea would be a sales tax. If everyone paid their fair share a lot more things could get done. Including getting the property taxes lowered. Of the approximately 40000 people in the city limits I doubt that half of them are property owners. Most are renters or military. It is time the community stood up and put their foot down and made everyone pay their fair share. I live outside the city limits but work inside the city. I would have no problem paying a sales tax which would help provide better services, like snow removal in the winter.
I agree with fbksreader. A sales tax is needed. It doesn't need to be hefty. Restraints must be put upon spending and initiatives to spend. But the property owners in this town are paying with blood. We all hate taxes, but before dismissing them remember services must be paid for. How about a small sales tax or small income tax. Look around, this town is looking like the desicated remains of a mummy. Either pay something for services or stop complaining. I remember Fairbanks at it's heights during the pipeline days. Those days are over. Everyone should pay some small tax, even it out and keep it fair.
Yea, that's what we need alright. Our annual sales tax vote is overdue. Let's just keep voting on it until the answer is yes. Sort of like we do school bonds.
I dont know what the answer is. I can write my property taxes off my fed taxes, so that's a plus. I dont believe that you can tax the big box stores to pay for it. They'll either just pass the cost on to consumers, or pack up and leave.
Stable taxes, good law enforcement, and a steady supply of customers all would help downtown. The one idea that I think would work is a historic gambling casino on the banks of the Chena. Think about it...
We are a family of seven and I love Fairbanks but something has to be done about the property tax. Why do you think most people want to buy a house in North Pole? The taxes are lower....... If they want to fix Fairbanks, start with helping us out on our property taxes!!!
As a borough taxpayer, I don't go downtown EVER and I don't reap the benifits of the tourism money like the downtown business do.
I'm all for a sales tax like the previous versions that have been proposed. It has to happen! Its just plain stupid to live in a Borough of 75,000 people, with another 15-20,000 from outlying areas that all use the resources that we homeowners are paying for while they pay nothing. Military, people who rent, Salcha residents, Delta Junction, Nenana, Anderson, Tok, all these folks drive the same roads we do and shop in the same stores we do. My only stipulation with them introducing a sales tax is that we will have to have conclusive in black and white writing on when and how much our property taxes will drop so the son of a gun politicians dont double dip off of us by charging a sales tax and not lowering our property taxes!
If the borough cant raise the tax rate then they just arbitrarily go out and have their assessors bump the value of the properties. So the get theirs in the end anyhow. Again taking from the have's and giving to the havenots maybe we should give the borough assembly some green tights 'cause they are acting like Robin Hood a blanket sales tax is the only effort that would be able to extract money from every one to benefit every one. Thanks
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