Alaska's state capital, a unified home-rule city and borough on Gastineau Channel. Not reachable by road; accessible only by ferry, airplane, or ship. Home to the state legislature, the Governor's Office, and Mendenhall Glacier.
An ongoing glacial lake outburst flood on the Taku River is affecting the City and Borough of Juneau, with an alert in effect until 11 p.m. AKDT Tuesday. Mariners and anyone near the river corridor should expect rapid water rises and debris in the channel.
The Juneau Assembly appointed 11 residents to its Airport, Docks and Harbors, and Eaglecrest ski area boards at a June 24 special meeting, all approved without objection.
The City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors Board met Thursday to consider two state harbor grant applications totaling up to $2.5 million and a recommendation to reduce the FY2027 uninsured vessel surcharge from $1.50 to $1.00 per linear foot per month.
The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly approved a local emergency declaration for a glacier outburst flood Thursday, passing it on a consent agenda alongside a $3.5 million school roof appropriation and a Coast Guard homeporting resolution.
The Juneau Assembly Finance Committee voted 6-3 Tuesday to direct staff to end the Eagle Crest gondola project and draft an ordinance to repay Goldbelt and terminate the revenue sharing agreement, after construction costs ballooned from $7 million to $27 million.
The Juneau Assembly voted Tuesday to terminate the Eaglecrest gondola revenue-sharing agreement with Goldbelt and appropriate $12.2 million to repay the corporation, ending a project deemed financially infeasible after cost overruns.
Kensington Mine's general manager testified Wednesday that eliminating Juneau's sales tax cap on single goods and services would increase the mine's annual tax burden by approximately $5 million, a 280% increase, as the Assembly considers the ordinance to address fiscal challenges.
The Juneau Assembly Finance Committee voted Wednesday night to cut $736,000 in recurring expenses from the city's operating budget, but the city still faces a projected fund balance deficit of $687,000 for fiscal year 2027.
The Juneau Assembly Finance Committee voted 5-4 Wednesday night to reduce Travel Juneau's hotel bed tax funding by $400,000 on a recurring basis, cutting the destination marketing organization's budget from roughly $1.27 million to about $867,000.
The Assembly Lands, Housing and Economic Development Committee reviewed a draft ordinance that would cap short-term rental ownership at one property per person, with members divided on whether the restriction addresses housing availability concerns.
The Juneau Assembly heard testimony Tuesday from dozens of residents defending recreation facilities as the city grapples with a projected negative general fund balance at the end of fiscal year 2027, forcing difficult decisions on service cuts and potential tax increases.
Juneau residents filled a special Assembly meeting to testify against proposed budget cuts to pools, field house, ice arena, and Eagle Crest ski area, with many families warning closures would drive them from the city.
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony on a resolution urging Congress to reclassify emergency dispatchers from clerical workers to protective service personnel, granting them access to federal training and mental health resources.
Juneau's FY25 audit received an unmodified opinion but arrived three months late due to Bartlett Regional Hospital's audit timing and internal control weaknesses that required millions in corrections.
The Senate Finance Committee voted 5-2 to advance a bill restoring defined benefit pensions for public employees after adopting an amendment allowing municipalities to opt in rather than being automatically enrolled.
Huna Totem Corporation has signed a tideland lease with the City and Borough of Juneau for the Oak Landing cruise dock development, moving the project toward a 2028 opening. The new dock will add a fifth berth to downtown Juneau, addressing current capacity constraints that force ships to anchor offshore.
Eagle Crest Ski Area presented three budget scenarios to the Assembly Finance Committee, revealing that operating at the historical $930,000 subsidy level would require 56% staff cuts and eliminate operational resilience, while a bare-minimum viable operation requires $1.68 million in taxpayer support.
The Assembly voted 6-3 to raise the vehicle sales tax cap from $14,300 to $50,000 after rejecting proposals to remove the cap entirely. The move is one of several revenue measures officials are weighing to close a $10 million to $12 million budget gap.
Juneau's airport dropped to Index B status when two of three firefighting trucks failed simultaneously, limiting service to only 737-700s Alaska Airlines is phasing out and prompting urgent funding requests for replacement equipment.
The Juneau School District is reviving a $10 million bond proposal for critical maintenance including roofs at three schools, HVAC upgrades, and security systems after years of minimal state capital funding left the district unable to address mounting infrastructure needs.
The Eaglecrest Board of Directors is scheduled Thursday to publicly interview GM finalist Julie Jackson Piper and hold a separate conversation with Goldbelt, Inc. — two consequential governance moves for Juneau's city-owned ski area on the same evening.
A public commenter told the Assembly Tuesday that forced management changes and procurement delays added millions to the Eagle Crest gondola project, with Trump tariffs worsening costs after two construction seasons were lost.
by Walter AlaskaNews10h ago2 min readAI
