Ketchikan: Ketchikan Borough Conducts "Till Tap" at Local Business as Part of Sales Tax Collection Efforts - The Ketchikan Gateway Borough conducted a "till tap" today at Gold Rush, a downtown jewelry story, to collect past-due sales taxes levied by the Borough and the City of Ketchikan. According to Ketchikan Borough Finance Director Mike Houts, the writ here is in conjunction with an outstanding unpaid judgment against Gold Rush for alleged unpaid sales taxes. The Ketchikan Borough previously used a writ of execution last month to obtain funds from bank accounts of Gold Rush which resulted in recovery of more than $700. The results of today's "till tap" were not released.
A till tap is the common term used to refer to one of several methods by which a writ of execution of a judgment may be executed. Other examples may be bank sweeps, where funds are removed from a debtor's bank accounts, or execution on permanent fund dividends, where the debtor's permanent fund dividend is taken for the benefit of the creditor.
Houts said the judgment on Gold Rush stems from unpaid sales taxes from 2010. In 2010, Gold Rush owed more than $26,700 in sales taxes, penalties and interest. While Gold Rush made some payments, the merchant failed to comply with the time payment agreement and a judgment was obtained for $14,863.97 plus ongoing interest.
The funds obtained from the till tap, which represent sales tax payments from customers which are relied upon to fund the City of Ketchikan and Ketchikan Borough services, will be deposited with the court, and after offering Gold Rush the opportunity to claim any exemptions fro execution, will eventually be released to the Ketchikan Borough and provided to the City and the Borough to pay for education and other public services said Houts.
The June 13th till tap at Gold Rush is part of stepped up efforts on the part of the Ketchikan Borough regarding sales tax collections said Houts. In another ongoing unidentified case, the Borough issued multiple citations in connection with a sales tax audit of another local business. In addition to obtaining judgments and execution writs, the Borough has added other enforcement tools in the past year which include the ability to issue citations for failing to file returns within 45 days or the date they were due, and seeing a court order closing a business for failure to file a return or for filing a return and failing to remit payment after being directed to do so.
Houts said in a news release, all local merchants are required to collect sales tax on all taxable sales within the Borough, and to file regular sales tax returns and remit the taxes collected. When a merchant fails to file a return, the Borough is authorized to estimate the sales, and can collect the appropriate sales tax amount from the merchant. If a merchant fails to pay, or if a merchant files a return and fails to remit the taxes they have collected from customers, the Borough goes through several steps before it comes to the point of forcibly removing funds from the merchant's bank accounts or business premises. - More...
Thursday - June 13, 2013
Ketchikan: Coast Guard's Ketchikan Project
Making Progress - The news the U.S. Coast Guard is making good progress on its plans for homeporting Fast Response Cutters (FRC’s) in Southeast Alaska and improving shore and waterfront facilities in Ketchikan to support the new vessels was welcomed Wednesday by U.S. Senator Mark Begich (D-AK).
Sen. Begich during his 2011 visit to Ketchikan to determine resources that the USCG needed to carry out critical missions in Alaska.
Photo courtesy Office of U.S. Sen. Mark Begich
The United States Coast Guard plans on building a 405-foot floating pier and a new 3,000 square foot support building in Ketchikan. The Coast Guard intends to homeport 2 FRC’s in Ketchikan by 2015, and add a third FRC in Juneau by 2020.
“I’m pleased the Coast Guard is making good progress on its plans for new patrol vessels and facility improvements,” said Begich. “Nowhere is the Coast Guard more important than in Alaska. In addition to creating new jobs during construction, this project will enhance protection for individuals and communities throughout Southeast Alaska, and will help fill the void in capability created by the decommissioning of the Acushnet in 2011.
“These actions will replace an aging patrol fleet in Sector Juneau that is nearing the end of its service life, improve the USCG’s mission readiness and capabilities, and improve our operational safety risk,” wrote Captain G.G. Bonner in a recent letter to Senator Begich.
Senator Begich was able to use his leadership position on the committee and his personal interest in furthering projects that benefit Alaska to assure that the USCG reauthorization bill adequately funded both the vessels and the Ketchikan support facilities. - More...
Thursday - June 13, 1013
Super Cool Karly-Joanne Klein-McMahon & Joann Flora
Ketchikan: Karly-Joanne Klein-McMahon is 'Super Cool' says Ketchikan Big Brothers Big Sisters. After five years of fundraising for the group, she has raised over $12,500 -- and only 11 years-old.
She is definitely pretty cool, and definitely a determined young women.
Ketchikan: Over One Million in PILT Payment to KGB- The Department of the Interior is distributing over $26 million to Alaskan communities in compensation for taxes that could not be levied on federal lands in their jurisdictions during fiscal year 2013. Of that amount, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough will receive $1,017,546 and Prince of Wales will be receiving a PILT payment of $654,129 for 2013.
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced reauthorization this afternoon of the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program which provides monetary compensation to local governments that contain National Forests, Bureau of Land Management public lands, National Parks and other lands dedicated to water resource development projects. The revenue helps local governments provide vital services, such as firefighting and police protection, construction of public schools and roads, and search-and-rescue operations.
“Local governments provide many of the vital services that their residents depend on, from maintaining roads and schools to firefighting and police protection,” U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said. “With the federal government managing 60 percent of Alaska, the payment in lieu of taxes program ensures that our local communities have the appropriate funds to provide services that would otherwise be supported through property taxes.” - More...
Thursday - June 13, 2013
Southeast Alaska: Sealaska One Step Closer to Receiving Their Full Land Entitlement - Led by Alaskan Congressman Don Young (R-AK), the House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday passed H.R. 740, the Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization and Jobs Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that will allow the Sealaska Native Corporation to receive its remaining land conveyance under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971.
The House Natural Resources Committee approved and reported out H.R. 740, for consideration by the full Congress, with technical amendments submitted by Young to address items from the State of Alaska and the sporting community. This vote shows bipartisan support in favor of approval, 29-14.
“With passage out of committee today [Wednesday], Sealaska is one step closer to receiving their full land entitlement and completing the federal government’s statutory obligation under ANCSA to the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people of Southeast Alaska. The legislation will ensure that Sealaska Corp. continues to meet the economic and cultural needs of its shareholders,” Rep. Young said. “I am also pleased that my amendment to address sportsmen’s concerns was accepted by voice vote."
“Congressman Young has been an unwavering champion of this bill, and we thank all members of this committee who supported moving the bill forward to the full House,” said Sealaska Board Chair Albert Kookesh.
H.R. 740 would convey to Sealaska approximately 70,000 acres in the Southeast Alaska region as part of a federal promise to Alaska Natives through the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) made law more than 40 years ago. The forests and waterways of Southeast Alaska, some 23 million acres, is the indigenous homeland of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people, who for thousands of years have lived and thrived there. The final transfer of land as promised in ANCSA would return less than one-half of 1 percent of those homelands back to the Native people of the region. - More...
Thursday - June 13, 2013
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No representative democracy in Ketchikan By David G. Hanger - Must have been about 1989 or so, I was driving out of Prince Rupert headed south and just started laughing uncontrollably at the reality that what goes on in Ketchikan really means next to nothing. It’s just a small little town in the middle of nowhere. - More...
Friday AM - June 14, 2013
Alaskan redheads By Mary Ann Christensen - Not sure the reason for eliminating the redheads from the yearbook, but I would encourage their inclusion. Redheads are unique. Just ask one! I was lucky to give birth to one. History has many famous stories of redheads who have made a difference in society. - More...
Friday AM - June 14, 2013
Herring Cove Estuary By Josh Pinkley - I am concerned about the impact of livestock (reindeer) on the vital salmon spawning area of Ketchikan's Herring Cove. The reindeer feces and other byproducts of raising livestock or domesticated animals could runoff into the river affecting the King Salmon hatchery and wild runs of salmon. With the very close proximity of the pens and large rainfall, make it very likely byproducts will end up in the river. Livestock carry parasites that could end up in the fish. - More...
Friday AM - June 14, 2013
Do the Crime, Do the Time... Wrong! By Leo Baldwin -
There is no evidence that length of sentences in prisons is correctional. Although the sign out front states this is a correctional facility. Just the opposite. Long sentences demoralizes prisoners; fact: it costs taxpayers a ton of money: $20K per person, PER YEAR!! A good college doesn't cost that much. Why the deficit spending Congress asks? Here's one reason! And we really can't afford it, there's more than two million prisoners. - More...
Friday AM - June 14, 2013
China Buying U.S. Companies By Donald A. Moskowitz -
Chinese companies spent $6.5 billion to purchase U.S. companies in 2012, which broke the previous record of $5.2 billion in 2010. It appears the Chinese acquisitions of U.S. companies could exceed $10 billion in 2013. - More...
Friday AM - June 14, 2013
Tongass77 By Marvin Seibert -
Recently there has been a push to get Congress to pass some form of the Bill called Tongass77. I question why we need another level of protection in Southeast Alaska. - More...
Tuesday PM - June 11, 2013
The TEMPEST By Judith Green -
BRAVO! Great performance on Friday night - THANK YOU TO ALL who had a part in putting together this wonderful evening: production of a William Shakespeare play in such an unlikely staging area. It was a chilly, rainy evening in Ketchikan (hmm, now that's not so unusual, is it?) and the full house audience at the Totem Bight Clan House were unaware as the performers kept every minute filled with anticipation and excitement. Every performer did an outstanding job. - More...
Tuesday PM - June 11, 2013
RE: Schoenbar Jr. High Redheads By Tanya Antonsen -
How sad that the picture of redheads was deleted from the yearbook! I come from a family of redheads: a grandma, uncle, cousin, both parents, both siblings, both daughters, a granddaughter and myself. I read an article last year that redheads are becoming more rare with each generation. - More...
Tuesday PM - June 11, 2013
Discrepancies in Ketchikan's Community Budget and No Accountability? By Ed Plute -
It seems to me, as well as a growing number of community members, that our fiscal responsibilities have been hijacked by an unknown source. As the budget skyrockets continuously year after year, what does our historical community have to show for it? After careful consideration over the past decade, noticeable discrepancies have not only grown in number, but also in size. The audacious actions pursued by a collective of individuals in this town have left us taxpayers hanging out to dry! - More...
Tuesday PM - June 11, 2013
RE: Thieves Among Us By Brad Childress -
I am deeply sorry for your loss of such a fine plant, I would really lock that up at night, it's not something that is admired at night and that's the most likely time for it to be stolen. - More...
Tuesday PM - June 11, 2013
RE: Taxes & Local Govt. By John Harrington - I hope that your readers are interested in continuing the conversation on taxes and local government, because I am writing again. - More...
Monday AM - June 10, 2013
Ketchikan Govt. & Taxes By Douglas J. Thompson - I am following the discourse on taxation with interest. It seems that the only ones happy with the situation are those spending and those receiving the tax money. To state the obvious to anyone looking there is not one department of either the Ketchikan borough or city that is run with any kind of acceptable efficiency and that includes the schools. There is not even an objective standard of performance for them to meet. Our hospital has been hijacked from us who have paid for every bit of it. In the summer we are relegated to owners with no rights as cruise ship people are taken care of before we can even be seen! The rates are three to four times that of comparable for profit hospitals (and they are legal thieves--see the March issue of Time Magazine). Firehall, library, bloated departments, on and on it goes, all built and run with not a care of cost to the taxpayer. So of course property values are far beyond reality and taxes among the highest in the state. We have a city/borough manager who dictates policy and a council/assembly that has accepted a subservient roll contrary to the way it is supposed to be. The only ones served are a very few special interests out of our pockets. - More...
Monday AM - June 10, 2013
Schoenbar Jr. High Redheads By Trené Elliott -
This year at Schoenbar something noteworthy happened. Red hair occurs in 1-2% of the human population (Wikipedia). Schoenbar had at least three times the average number of redheaded 7th and 8th grade students. Students, staff and parents noticed this rare event and wanted to remember it. The students arranged for all the redheads to have a picture taken to be included in the Year Book. The same was done for twins since there were so many twins at Schoenbar this year. Well, one person called the office and complained. One very childish and extremely petty parent has something against redheads (Gingerism - prejudice against redheads). Maybe this person was bullied by a redhead in their youth. Maybe they have a phobia of red hair (Gingerphobia hatred of redheads). Whatever the silly reason, one phone call was all it took for Schoenbar to remove that picture from the Year Book. - More...
Monday AM - June 10, 2013
Open Letter: Muslims Obamacare exempt?By A.M. Johnson -
Senator Mark Begich, as you view the following, reflect on the dumbass vote you gave on the very first days in office. Sucked up to Obama and look at the continuing disaster that is coming to light. Right, pass the damn legislation to find out what is in it. Well Senator now we know and are learning more. So is it too much to ask that you do your own due diligence you failed to do in the first instance or you staff to be charged to do so. - More...
Monday AM - June 10, 2013
Borough Bus System By Rudy McGillvray - I ride the Ketchikan borough buses, as such I feel I have a small expectation they are running at or close to their scheduled times. Even tho it's Tourist Season, and the numbers of them slow the buses down somewhat, I feel that it is the other vehicular traffic that really slows down the buses. - More...
Wednesday PM - June 05, 2013
Thanks Ketchikan By Fred Bassett -
Thank you for posting my request to find places to band hummingbirds in Ketchikan. I banded at five homes and met many wonderful, helpful people. I banded 77 Rufous hummingbirds as part of my migration research and could have banded many more if I could have stayed longer. - More...
Wednesday PM - June 05, 2013
Taxes & Local Govt. By Dan McQueen -
It's refreshing to wake-up with a cup of coffee and the SIT-NEWS' letters to the Editor. I really enjoyed Mr.Dial's letter of 3 June 2013. - More..
Wednesday PM - June 05, 2013
Thieves Among Us By Tina Singer - This past weekend, someone stole a beautiful orange blossomed hanging begonia from my front porch on Baranof Avenue. Not only did they steal from me, but, as this was a mother's day gift, they've also stolen from my son. - More...
Monday PM - June 03, 2013
RE: Taxes & Local Government By Rodney Dial -
Thank you Mr. Harrington for the kind words about me. I too appreciate most of your past efforts on the Assembly as one of the more moderate members…. however, regarding your statement about my letters: - More...
Monday PM - June 03, 2013
Property Tax By Hans Holum -
Mr Harrington misses a major point in his own argument about property tax comparisons around the state. A lot of the listed places are both the city and borough tax load i.e. the entire tax for real property in the area. If you add the city tax portion to the borough rate, the people of Ketchikan are right up there with Fairbanks and are only topped by the North Slope Borough. - More...
Monday PM - June 03, 2013
More Than Just a Sealaska Shareholder By Frank Hopper -
I was born in Juneau, although I have no memory of ever living there. My family moved to Seattle when I was only two. My Caucasian father never explained why, except to say there were too many "rednecks" in Juneau who didn't approve of his marriage to a Tlingit woman. - More...
Monday PM - June 03, 2013
Why we don't want to simplify the Income Tax code. By Jim Donnell -
Congressman Tim Griffin [AZ-02] appeared on Fox News today to talk about the effort in the House Ways and Means committee to simplify the income tax code, eliminate loop holes, lower the rates, etc. He said that the Senate Finance committee is in similar agreement to which the Fox reporter replied, "I can't imagine any American would be against that..." - More...
Monday PM - June 03, 2013
ObamaCare cost By A.M. Johnson - Sorry, I am unable to contain the frustrations of watching our elected officials handling the uproar of mind boggling scandal(s) and inability to see the forest for the trees or worst yet, not able to see the tree for the forest! It is obvious not matter the party, the intent of ObamaCare while good intentioned, is a debacle mess and will only become worst as the depth and consequences gain more momentum towards the final implication date. Can it be stopped? Yes, Man (Lisa) makes laws Man (Lisa) can change or remove laws. Not that she can do it single handed, but it would surely help if she started shouting and making noise. There are Senators who ARE doing so. Her absents supports the suspicion that her RINO status is golden!. Anyway Editor, I have submitted my frustration to Senator Murkowski. A copy of this frustration is submitted to Sitnews. - More...
Monday PM - June 03, 2013
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