Utqiaġvik hears a marijuana tax rise from 8% to 10% tonight, and voters decide Oct. 6

Utqiagvik residents get their say tonight on raising the city's marijuana sales tax from 8 percent to 10 percent — and on the same night, the City Council will take up a separate measure to extend a break on the city's general sales tax for another several years.

The marijuana tax increase isn't the council's to make alone. Under state law, voters have to ratify any sales tax hike, so even if the council advances the measure after tonight's hearing, it heads to the Oct. 6 city ballot for residents to decide: a yes vote sets the rate at 10 percent, a no vote leaves it at 8.

The suspension measure would extend a break already in place. Utqiagvik has suspended its general sales and use tax through mid-2027, and the new ordinance would carry that suspension all the way to 2031 — still taxing imported alcohol and vaping products in the meantime. It's up for introduction tonight, with its own hearing set for late September.

Also on the agenda: two appointments to top administrative posts — a new finance director and a new executive director — and a review of bids for a renovation of the Piuraagvik locker room.