Issues pertaining to the Kenai Peninsula Borough were discussed as KSRM’s coverage of Decision 2023 focused on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor special election broadcast on Tuesday evening. All four candidates that are listed on the ballot, David Carey, Zachary Hamilton, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings and Peter Micciche were featured during the forum. Also included during the forum was certified write-in candidate Robert Wall, who submitted a pre-recorded statement in advance due to work commitments.
Carey, Hamilton, Farnsworth-Hutchings and Micciche discussed the KPB Mayor race that will be decided on Tuesday, February 14th. The subjects ranged from Property Exemptions, Sales Tax, Animal Control, Base Student Allowance, Public Safety, Healthcare, Snow Removal, Solid Waste and Elections within the Kenai Peninsula Borough.
The candidates were also asked the question: “With the recent surge in residential home values, is an adjustment of the mill rate necessary?”
David Carey;
“Absolutely it’s necessary. We take more and more from the people. We agree that all the prices, in terms of their values are going up on houses. The borough is going greatly increase the assessments now. we’re going to get a lot more money. They have forty million surplus and that’s just adequate? That’s way too much. The government should be based on what the people can afford to pay, not what you can get from them. The idea of looking at lowering the mill rate, absolutely. When I was mayor, ten year ago, we did a one mill reduction from my first year to the second year. From a five point five down to a four point five mill. That was 2008 versus 2009. The government should always look for ways to reduce the mill rate, take our hands out peoples pockets. Give them a break and be sure the government is very lean. But you bet, reduce the mill rate now, absolutely.”
Zachary Hamilton;
“So, I believe the exact percentage is forty six percent of the revenue comes through property taxes. Forty four percent through sales tax. And less than ten percent comes through other sources, Fed, state, interest. I don’t think that there needs to be raised mill rates. Were probably right where we need to be. But, the fact of the matter is as everything costs more and everything is worth more were going to have to get more lean as a borough, or find more green. Something to consider.”
Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings;
“Well, I don’t believe there needs to be an adjustment. Because, as you said were are doing very well and assessments are predicated by the State of Alaska. You have a formula that has to be used. We have developed a better drone process of going out and making sure that were getting all of the residents out there. Sometimes, you know, people don’t always tell you that they’ve added on to their house and whatever else. So, now that they have this and as you said the assessments have gone up. I don’t think we need to make any changes to our property taxes.”
Peter Micciche;
“You know the increase in home values may be a blip. And it’s hard for us to say over the long term, so, what we have to do is evaluate what we are taking in and what we’re spending to determine what that looks like. But right now we have adequate fund balance, it’s actually forty one million when it was all said and done unless that has changed very recently. With that fund balance, where we are, were deficit spending by about six million a year, that gives us probably six years or five years without even considering an adjustment. And in that time, if we plan adequately for the long term, we maybe able to due a short term reduction now and have a very smooth tax rate going forward that doesn’t have to jump to react to every little blip that changes. But, the more important thing is that you’re seeing a housing shortage that is bringing up the value of real estate because we are land constrained. So, if the borough can work together with the community to provide, possibly release some land once we understand the long term needs. We may make more real estate available for more development that will soften that cost increase that happens during these blips. So, if anything there’s room for a reduction right now, but we are ok for the next half decade just because of the fund balance that we have available with current spending if we can remain relativity flat.”
Absentee voting is available now through February 13th at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Building, Kenai City Hall, Seward City Hall and the Homer Annex. The deadline to apply for an Absentee Ballot by mail is February 7th.
The special Mayoral Election will be held borough-wide on Tuesday, February 14th.
To locate your polling location, Click here.
Click the player below to listen to KSRM’s candidate election forum:
Hour 1
Hour 2
