Juneau Assembly has approved a 9percent increase in all fees charged to harbors and docks that will take effect on January.
Carl Uchytil, Juneau’s port director, informed in the Assembly this morning that Monday’s hike will enable for the Docks and Harbors Board to keep facilities in good condition and to save more money for savings.
“We have around quarter billion dollars of infrastructure, yet we only have $3.7 million of savings in our fund balance” Uchytil said.
Uchytil stated that savings are crucial in grants, which typically require applicants to pledge a portion of their own funds. For instance, he noted that the board applied to build a drive-down float in Aurora Harbor with help from federal funds, which would require $500,000 match funds.
Docks, which are used by cruise ships, as well as harbors, that serve recreational and fishing boats are run by separate financials and staff. Most of the time both harbors and docks have generated more revenue than they’ve used up in the last few years. The one exception was the epidemic that caused COVID, and COVID resulted in a decline in docks’ revenue.
A total of four members voted against the idea, saying harbor owners shouldn’t have to shoulder the cost of revenue loss due to the industry of cruise ships.
Its style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”I do favor increasing the docks fees that are for foreign tourism and cruise lines. They take a lot of money from Juneau and they have to begin giving more back,” said Shane Kraus who is a live-aboard. “I want to advocate for increasing the rates for harbors that impact local boaters and local businesses.” .”
Assembly Member Alicia Hughes-Skandijs admitted that she was unsure of how the vote would be cast.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”It’s the harbor fee increases I’m having trouble over,” she added. “If they’re already on the right track, and they want to raise 9% in the interest of building capital funds, there’s a an element of me that would prefer them to come to the Assembly for capital funds. .”
However, Member Michelle Hale said that would result in spending more tax payer money for infrastructure that is used by a tiny percentage of Juneau residents.
span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”Everybody who doesn’t own an boat or happens to be in the harbor ends up paying the improvement to the harbor,” the woman said.
Assembly members Wade Bryson, the Assembly’s liaison to the Docks and Harbors Board, stated that “there is no simple method” to boost revenue in the present.
“I do not believe we’ve discussed raising prices at any city event which hasn’t been opposed,” Bryson said.
In 2021 In 2021, in 2021, the Docks and Harbors Board considered increasing the fees per month for live-aboards, but did not submit the proposal to the Assembly to be approved. After bringing in a consultant to carry out a rate study the board voted for an increase of 9% on the fees of all customers.
“The board believed that this was the most fair approach,” Uchytil told the Assembly.
The increases will be applied to charges for launch as well as resident surcharges grid usage fees maintenance charges for ports and other. Most of them will rise by 9 percent in January. The monthly moorage charges are subject to change based according to the length of the vessel, will increase by every year by 3% over in the coming three years.
The rate hike was approved in a vote of 5-4. The members Bryson, Alicia Hughes, Michelle Hale, ‘Waahlaal Giidaak and Mayor Beth Weldon voted yes, and members Greg Smith, Christine Woll, Paul Kelly and Ella Adkison did not vote.
