I just returned from Juneau! And are they busy! I observed the following under construction: new motel, boat condos, commercial buildings, expansion of cruise ship facilities, downtown parking garage and talk of reopening A.J. Mine, and other mining doing very well. Apparently they see the “handwriting on the wall” and are racing to expand and diversify their economy. Our Haines economy? Snowbirds are leaving, businesses closing for winter, assembly’s heads deeply buried in “sand”over restricting heli-skiing!
Haines has become dependent on federal, state and private grants to fund local projects. Most of our local workforce is borough, federal, state, non-profit or Native granted employees.
What is our borough proposing to build our economy, pay for additional staff and existing staff pay increases and sustain our borough government? America’s recent mandate for fiscal changes in Washington will involve serious entitlement and earmark reductions and focus on reducing federal bureaucracy.
Haines is a wonderful, giving community and demonstrates these traits during difficult times experienced by friends and neighbors. However, Haines fish tax revenues dropped $230,000 this year, the assembly raided reserves to balance its budget and we can probably expect significant declines in future grants. Cruise West is gone, so we lose 40 dockings. What sources will be used to fund local non-profit groups we depend upon? Combined with declining state oil production, our future looks tough for Haines and the state. Why? Because we have not prepared for our future.
Joe Poor