Sterling residents want to tax themselves for recreation

Sterling residents want to tax themselves to pay for recreation.

A citizen petition would create a Sterling Recreation Service Area — the mechanism that lets residents levy a local tax to fund one specific service, here recreation. On Aug. 4, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly will set the time and place for a public meeting where residents can speak for or against it. That vote only schedules the meeting; it doesn't decide whether the service area happens.

Assembly President Ryan Tunseth sponsored the scheduling item, and a proposed boundary map — showing who would be inside the taxing district — is attached to the petition.