Borough Assembly to consider allowing voters to decide on new sales tax

The Mat-Su Borough Assembly has not met for more than a month, after taking July off except for a special meeting right before Independence Day.

At its meeting on Tuesday, the Assembly will consider whether to put an area wide sales tax on the next ballot.  The ordinance proposes a two-percent tax on goods and services sold in the Valley.  The stated purpose of the tax is for property tax relief.

An informational memorandum accompanying the ordinances states the intent of the sales tax proposal is not to increase borough revenue, but rather to diversify where that revenue comes from.

The tax ordinance is very similar to existing sales taxes in the City of Wasilla and the Talkeetna Sewer and Water District.

A new sales tax is not the only potential ballot question on Tuesday’s agenda.  Assembly Member Jesse Sumner is also introducing an ordinance that would shorten term limits for both the Assembly and Mat-Su Borough Mayor.  Sumner’s proposal would limit the borough’s elected officials to a single three-year term.  Current borough code limits assembly members and the mayor to two consecutive three-year terms.  The term limit ordinance is set for public hearing on August 20^th.  If passed, the decision would also be put to borough voters in the November 5^th election.

Mat-Su Borough Assembly meetings are streamed live by Big Cabbage Radio.