In a letter to the Borough Assembly (August 12, 2025), I requested that they apply what is known as the “de minimus” indirect cost rate, or IDC, to all federal grants for which we apply and/or are awarded. 

This has not been standard practice in the Haines Borough, and yet, as someone who manages and writes federal grants professionally, it is standard practice on every other federal grant I have worked on for the last 20 years. 

An “indirect” rate is the cost of administration and overhead for a grant, provided by the federal government to the entity that receives the grant. 

For the Haines Borough, this means that on a $20 million Lutak Dock grant, at least 15% (or $3 million) could be given to the borough as “indirect” funds to be used for any administrative purposes (not just those affiliated with the project). 

The downside to doing this? It means that less funding goes to a private contractor who will carry out the work. 

Imagine what we could do with $3 million right now? 

Help fund school sports and preschool programs, hire a project manager for large projects in the borough, keep the Four Winds Resource Center, save money for infrastructure replacement costs, bring back funding to non-profits. 

Do not let our local government create the perception of stagnation and financial starvation when abundance is only one creative decision away.

Natalie Dawson