Ordinance on future sales tax exemption changes fails in final reading

Ordinance 2024-11 — to place before voters an amendment to the borough charter to remove the requirement of voter ratification for future changes to sales tax exemptions — failed in its final reading at the July 1 assembly meeting.

Borough Finance Director Jody Tow explained during the prior assembly meeting that, if passed, this change would be helpful during times of unknown state revenues to free up the assembly to act more flexibly and quickly to resolve budgetary issues.

Petersburg is the only municipality in Alaska that requires voter ratification of changes to sales tax exemptions.

The...