The Kenai Peninsula School Board last night decided not to get involved in discussions about the Borough grocery tax holiday. The Board had been asked by Assembly Member Blaine Gilman to weigh in on the issue, given that the sales tax from groceries is dedicated to school funding.
President Joe Arness was with the majority “no” vote…
Arness: “My feeling is that that probably should be repealed, I just didn’t want the school board involved in that fight. The public spoke a couple of times, pretty loud, pretty large margins. I tend to respect that, although I disagree with the sales tax exemption holiday, or whatever it’s referred to as. I just didn’t want to see the Board as a group get involved in that. I will participate individually with my own personal opinion, but that’s a different question.”
The District has been dealing with a budget shortfall of its own, projecting a $6 million deficit this year.
Arness said even though the sales tax is devoted to the schools, the Borough may reduce other funding, so an increase in sales tax wouldn’t necessarily increase school funding.
