ANCHORAGE – Today Rep. Les Gara (D-Anchorage) said legislators could have avoided the major staff cuts the Anchorage School District is facing according to their recently released tentative “3 year” forecast. That forecast shows a loss of over 500 teachers and staff over the next three years.
It’s been another busy week in the Juneau. I’m going to be back home next weekend, and Senator Bill Wielechowski and I will be hosting a neighborhood meeting at the Boys and Girls Club Northeast Community Center at 10:00am on Saturday March 10. Bill and I will bring coffee and donuts, and I hope you will bring some great ideas and questions.
Working for Lower Residential Property Taxes
On Tuesday I presented my bill to allow for more residential property tax relief to the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee.
You have probably heard about the recent controversy surrounding property tax exemptions for teachers and employees of religious organizations. Representative Berta Gardner and I feel this situation is unfair to other taxpayers, and have introduced House Bill 305, the Property Tax Fairness Act, to fix it.
In 2006, the Legislature significantly broadened the definition of religious property by including exemptions for the residence of “an educator in a private religious or parochial school.” This legislation also expanded the definition of “minister” and broadened the ordination standard for ministers. It also made these tax exemptions mandatory for all Alaska municipalities.
In 2006, the Legislature significantly broadened the definition of religious property by including exemptions for the residence of “an educator in a private religious or parochial school.” This legislation also expanded the definition of “minister,” broadened the ordination standard for ministers, and made these tax exemptions mandatory for all Alaska municipalities – creating another unfunded mandate…
You have probably heard the commotion relating to property tax exemptions for some religious properties in Anchorage.
Property tax exemptions for religious facilities and for pastor housing have been a longstanding practice in states and municipalities throughout the nation, including in Alaska. In 2006, the definition of religious property was significantly broadened to include some residences of teachers serving at religious institutions.
