Council passes FY 24 budget in first reading
The Nome Common Council passed a general fund budget for fiscal year 2024 in the amount of $17.04 million, in first reading. The budget ordinance will come up for the second reading, public comment and vote in the next council meeting. The ordinance also includes a property tax of 11 mill. The current FY 23 mill rate is 12 mill. However, across the board property assessments went up about 15 percent on average, which caused 169 property owners in Nome to challenge the assessments. Due to the sheer number of appeals, the assessor is currently working with the appellants to respond to their objections, and the Board of Equalization will meet on May 31, June 1 and 2 to address the complaints. According to the ordinance, the total value of all taxable property in Nome is about $472 million. Council member Scot Henderson proposed a mill rate of 10.5 which would keep property taxes at the current level, despite the increase in property values. City Manager Glen Steckman reminded the council that the city still has many projects that “have been kicked down the road for 10 or 12 years” and that need to be addressed. The council set a work session on discussing the mill rate on Wednesday, June 7, prior to the next regular meeting on June 12. The Council also voted and passed a resolution on the city’s contribution to the Nome Public Schools, in the amount of $3.2 million, a $50,000 increase over last year. The state legislature has increased the basic student allocation, but the budget has yet to be signed by Governor Mike Dunleavy and it is unclear how this one-time boost in state funds would impact Nome Schools. Councilmember Mark Johnson remarked that every year the council faces this dilemma of not having the full picture of the funding. In other business, the council passed a resolution for a facilities use agreement between the City, Nome Public Schools, BSSD and Northwest Campus to allow NWC students to use NACTEC’s wood and welding shop for adult technical trades training. The council also voted in first reading an ordinance to sell several small portions along Steadman Road for right-of-way purposes as the Dept. of Transportation is seeking to repair and improve Steadman St. With the exception of Council member Cameron Piscoya, Council members Tapqaq, Johnson, Johnson, Henderson voted affirmatively on a resolution commending Tom Vaden for his many years of dedicated service to the Nome Volunteer Ambulance Department. In the city manager report, Glenn Steckman brought attention to unsafe driving habits of some Nomeites on ATVs. Henderson asked if there is full staffing at NPD. Chief Mike Heintzelman responded that there are three open positions at NPD and that the department recently hired a seasoned, Alaska certified police officer by the name of James Turk, who joins the NPD from Bethel. Council member Mark Johnson thanked City Clerk Bryant Hammond as he’s ending his tenure with the city for his years of service. Johnson acknowledged that it’s not an easy job especially when changes occur and city staff taking the brunt of an irritated public. Mayor John Handeland said that there will be the annual Memorial Day Parade to the cemetery and Belmont Point. He congratulated the new 2023 Nome-Beltz graduates and NPD’s Gray Harrison for his Master’s degree in Justice Administration. Handeland also reported that the Nome Volunteer Fire Department was honored at a Red Cross function in Anchorage for its exemplary response to the Bering Sea Restaurant fire, while Merbok was still raging.