Haines budget amendment would accept $7 million in grants, $3 million for cruise dock

The Haines Borough Assembly is set to introduce a budget amendment Wednesday, Nov. 18, that would accept about $7 million in state and federal grants. The package includes $3 million for the Port Chilkoot Dock and $2.41 million in federal rural health money for a borough wellness program. Other grants would cover the pool, two school projects and the Care-A-Van, which serves seniors and people with disabilities.

The amendment is on the consent agenda. Public hearings are proposed for Dec. 15 and Jan. 12.

The dock money is Haines' share of a $37.5 million Commercial Passenger Vessel Block Grant the state Senate Finance Committee added to the 2027 capital budget, paid from the state's commercial vessel passenger tax account. Skagway got $9 million, Ketchikan about $6.9 million, Juneau $6 million, Sitka $4.5 million and Hoonah $3 million. Every grant shrinks proportionally if the account falls short.

In February, the Assembly had asked the state for $12.2 million from the same account for a floating berth. The borough has told dock bidders it intends to use the $3 million for fender refurbishment, dock decking, the tendering float and a floating component, though scope, allocation and sequencing "are still being developed."

The money comes as the Assembly weighs two proposals to lease the dock. The Port Chilkoot Development Corporation, formed by Huna Totem Corporation and Survey Point Holdings with Viking as a strategic partner, offers a 35-year lease projecting $34.8 million in fees and says state passenger vessel funds would keep going directly to the borough. Global Ports Holding proposes four 15- to 20-year options with $100,000 annual lease payments and upfront payments of $1.3 million to $2.6 million. It would fund a new floating tender dock but asks the borough to pay for a covered passenger shelter, decking replacement and fender-panel refurbishment, estimated at $2.85 million.

The Assembly holds a dock priorities work session Nov. 17, and a community town hall on the dock is scheduled for Dec. 1.

The health grant, from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, would pay for new pool heating and ventilation, a new mental health holding area, staff mental health training and more programming for seniors and at the pool. The state notified the borough of the award Sept. 18. Borough Manager Alekka Fullerton reported Nov. 12 that the pool project is out to bid and two full-time lifeguards have been hired with the money.

A related resolution at the same meeting would pay Catholic Community Services about $175,000 in rural health money through June 30, 2027, for the Care-A-Van and a temporary lunch program expansion.

The school items include a $623,000 state reimbursement for a high school roof the borough already paid for. That frees general fund money: about $55,000 would replace one of three school boilers, and more would cover the borough's 35% share of a $1.33 million locker room renovation. An $865,000 state grant covers the other 65%.