The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly has a light agenda on Monday, the day before local elections.
The assembly has a public hearing and second vote scheduled on removing the sales tax exemption for seniors, but only for purchases of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana.
That first was proposed early this year. But, the assembly at that time decided not to take action. More recently, assembly members asked that it be brought back. And during the last meeting, it was approved in first reading.
The senior sales tax exemption allows residents age 65 and older to not pay sales tax locally. According to the borough, if those seniors did pay sales tax, the amount would total more than $550,000 a year.
Borough staff members say it’s difficult to estimate how much of that might be from the sale of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. But, they’ve estimated that removing the senior exemption for those sales, specifically, would generate about $25,000 a year.
The ordinance, if approved on Monday, would not take effect unless the Ketchikan City Council also approves a similar measure for sales inside city limits, subject to city sales tax.
Monday’s assembly meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in borough assembly chambers at the White Cliff building. Public comment will be heard at the start of the meeting.
