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District 6 Republicans Endorse Bronson, Hughes, and Wilson for Governor

Natalie Spaulding
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District 6 Republicans Endorse Bronson, Hughes, and Wilson for Governor

Today, April 30, the Alaska Republican Party District 6 announced its endorsements for the 2026 Governor’s race. ARP District 6 endorses Dave Bronson, Shelley Hughes, and Bernadette Wilson for the Office of Governor, stating these candidates displayed “exceptional alignment with the Party’s guiding principles and platform during both the questionnaire and interview process.”

ARP District 6 conducted a vetting process involving a questionnaire and an interview with a vetting committee. Only five of the twelve Republican candidates chose to participate in the full vetting process. James Parkin and Bruce Walden participated but did not receive party endorsement.

In a press release, ARP District 6 leadership announced: “We believe that either (in alphabetical order) Dave Bronson, Shelley Hughes, or Bernadette Wilson will provide strong leadership for Alaska and uphold the values of District 6. We encourage all Republican voters to support these candidates in the upcoming election.”

$26.3 Million Sustainable Energy Project Advanced by Alaska Energy Authority, Chugach Electric, and Carnival Corp

Natalie Spaulding
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$26.3 Million Sustainable Energy Project Advanced by Alaska Energy Authority, Chugach Electric, and Carnival Corp

The following is an unaltered reprint of a press release provided to Must Read Alaska on 4/29/2026 by Chugach Electric Media Contact Julie Hasquet.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA), Chugach Electric Association, Inc., and Carnival Corporation today announced continued progress on the Whittier Shore Power Project, a port electrification investment that enables cruise ships calling on Whittier to plug into shore‑based electrical power instead of operating diesel generators while docked. Crews are actively constructing the project, with operations expected to begin in spring 2027.

AEA is providing $9.4 million in State of Alaska funding to support the project. Chugach Electric is contributing $7.8 million, and Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company, is contributing $9.1 million, bringing total matching corporate contributions to $16.9 million. Combined, these investments bring total project funding to $26.3 million. State cruise ship head tax revenue will help support this effort.

As a port electrification project, the Whittier Shore Power Project will allow cruise ships to turn off their engines and connect to shoreside power while docked, reducing emissions, noise, and fuel use and helping improve local air quality in Whittier.

The project includes electrical system upgrades and specialized equipment near the cruise dock to safely convert and deliver power from the local grid to large vessels. By replacing onboard diesel generation with electricity supplied by local utilities, port electrification supports Alaska’s clean energy economy while delivering environmental and community benefits at Alaska cruise ship docks.

“This project is a meaningful example of how strategic partnerships can deliver long term benefits for Alaska’s communities,” said AEA Executive Director Curtis W. Thayer. “By investing in shore power infrastructure, we’re reducing emissions, supporting economic activity in Whittier, and putting federal and state energy investments to work in a way that delivers real, measurable value for Alaskans.”

“This investment represents a meaningful commitment to the Whittier community— enhancing reliability, strengthening environmental performance, and delivering long term value,” said Chugach CEO Arthur Miller. “Residents and visitors alike will experience improved air quality and reduced noise, as we continue modernizing our infrastructure in support of the communities we serve.”

Carnival Corporation, whose world‑class cruise lines call regularly on Whittier as part of Alaska itineraries, has been a partner in advancing the project.

“Shore power investments like this directly support the guest experience while reflecting our long-standing commitment to being a responsible partner in Alaska,” said Ralph Samuels, vice president, community and government affairs, Holland America Princess Alaska Operations. “By working closely with AEA and Chugach Electric, we’re helping reduce emissions in port, protect the destinations our guests cherish and support the communities that welcome our ships year after year.”

Project teams have already begun work, with additional construction planned for the upcoming summer season. Shore power infrastructure allows vessels to connect directly to the local electrical grid while docked, dramatically reducing diesel emissions and improving conditions for nearby residents, workers, and visitors.

AEA, Chugach Electric, and Carnival Corporation will share additional updates as construction progresses.

About the Alaska Energy Authority

The Alaska Energy Authority is a public corporation of the state. Its mission is advancing affordable, reliable energy in Alaska. AEA leads the development of critical energy infrastructure, strengthens resilience, reliability, and redundancy across Alaska’s energy systems, and supports statewide economic growth by enabling secure, long‑term energy solutions for communities, utilities, and industry. To learn more, visit akenergyauthority.org.

About Chugach Electric

Chugach Electric Association, Inc. is the largest electric utility in Alaska serving nearly 89,000 members at over 113,000 service locations. Chugach’s service territory extends from Anchorage to the northern Kenai Peninsula, westward to Tyonek and eastward to Whittier. Chugach originated as an Alaska electric cooperative in 1948, designed exclusively to serve its members.

About Carnival Corporation & plc

Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest global cruise company and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world class cruise lines – AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn. To learn more about Carnival Corporation’s purpose and our positive impact worldwide on people and the planet, go to www.carnivalcorp.com/impact.

Defined Benefits Bill Goes to Governor; Majority Calls It “Modest;” Minority Says It “Bankrupts Generations of Alaskans”

Natalie Spaulding
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Defined Benefits Bill Goes to Governor; Majority Calls It “Modest;” Minority Says It “Bankrupts Generations of Alaskans”

On Tuesday, April 28, the Alaska State Senate passed House Bill 78, which reestablishes a defined benefit retirement plan for public employees. Proponents of the bill emphasize its impact on workforce retention, claiming the bill could potentially save the State millions by reducing turnover, lowering re-training costs, and encouraging higher quality of services. Opponents to the bill consider the plan too similar to the State’s failed Legacy Plan which continues to cost the State billions of dollars despite being discontinued decades ago.

According to a press release from the Senate Majority, HB 78 is “a fiscally responsible path to recruit and retain public employees by providing a modest pension plan with structural safeguards, including adjustable contributions and shared risk provisions that ensure the plan remains fully funded without creating unfunded liability for the state.”

Currently, a high turnover rate, leading to constant recruiting and training public employees has cost the State an estimated $640 million since 2006, when the State ended its previous defined benefits plan.

HB 78 will allow current and new employees to opt into the new defined benefit plan or remain in their existing defined contribution plan. The defined benefits plan features a tiered pension calculation, a five-year vesting period, health reimbursement accounts, Post-Retirement Pension Adjustments to protect against inflation, and disability and death benefits.

According to Senator Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau): “For years, Alaska tried to make a broken system work. Year after year we’ve seen public servants leave because we couldn’t offer them a secure retirement and reasonable pay. This bill makes government more efficient and effective by giving public employees the stability to build careers here and set deep roots in Alaska.”

Senator Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage) also praised the bill, stating: “Thousands of Alaskans commit their careers to public service to keep our neighborhoods safe, our youngest generation educated, our communities healthy, and our roads plowed. Those employees deserve to retire with dignity. This is not just a fix to the state’s employee vacancy issues; it’s a solution for Alaskans so they can keep their roots in the communities they love and grow their families for generations. This is a promise that we owe to every single dedicated public servant.”

HB 78 passed the Senate with a vote of 12-8. All but two Senators in the Senate Majority voted Yea. All six members of the Senate Republican Caucus voted Nay. Senators Stedman (R-Sitka) and Olson (D-Golovin) joined the Republican Caucus in voting Nay.

According to a press release from the Senate Republican Caucus, the defined benefits plan “is anticipated to cost Alaskans billions of dollars.”

“The Senate Republican Caucus has the deepest respect for our public employees. However, we cannot support a policy with unknowable future costs, obscure fiscal notes, and a legacy of failure,” stated the Caucus in a press release.

The Senate Republican Caucus expresses concern over the “little evidence that public pensions will reduce employee turnover and improve the state workforce,” the lack of a reliable cost analysis, and the fact that Alaskans will be constitutionally bound to “foot the bill.” If the State fails to cover the cost with current revenue, Alaskans will see higher taxes or further reductions to their PFDs.

On Wednesday, April 29, the Alaska House of Representatives passed HB 78 in a narrow vote of 21-19. It is now headed to the Governor’s office.

The House Republican Caucus also expresses “deep concern” regarding the defined benefits plan, warning that the bill causes a “seismic shift toward fiscal instability.”

According to House Minority Leader DeLena Johnson (R-Palmer): “Alaska is already struggling under a $7 billion deficit in its retirement systems, despite a massive $3 billion infusion in 2014. While other states struggle under the weight of their own defined benefit plans, Alaska had previously found a more stable path. This plan costs $40 million a year. Where is the state going to find the money to cover these new costs?”

Rep. Will Stapp (R-Fairbanks) warned of the bill’s binding liability: “Because of Article 7 of the Alaska Constitution, which prohibits the diminishment of benefits, the bill creates a forever liability that future legislatures cannot adjust, even in the event of a revenue collapse. The state’s previous defined benefit plan saw its liabilities balloon from $15 billion to over $25 billion after it was closed.

“Today, we took action that will bind not only this Legislature, but future legislatures, for the next half of the century,” continued Rep. Stapp. “We don’t know the impacts of the risks that we’re taking. We learned that lesson 20 years ago, and we can’t afford to relearn it.”

Final draft of HB 78 sent to Governor:

HB78Download

Dunleavy Declares Denim Day, Annual Worldwide Protest After Italian Court Overturned Rape Conviction on Grounds Victim Wore “Tight Denim”

Natalie Spaulding
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Dunleavy Declares Denim Day, Annual Worldwide Protest After Italian Court Overturned Rape Conviction on Grounds Victim Wore “Tight Denim”

Governor Mike Dunleavy declared today, April 29, 2026, “Denim Day,” calling all Alaskans to “wear denim for the day to stand united against sexual assault.”

Denim Day originated in 1999 when the Italian Supreme Court overturned a 1992 rape conviction on the grounds that the victim was wearing tight denim pants. The Court ruled that the victim’s wearing of tight jeans indicated that she consented to sex, otherwise (according to the Court), the defendant would not have been able to get the jeans off. The ruling sparked outrage and protests around the world.

In 2008, the Italian Supreme Court rejected what became known as the “denim defense,” and instead ruled that tight clothing does not imply consent or prevent rape.

“We must speak out against victim-blaming and create a culture of respect, equality, and safety,” Dunleavy’s Denim Day proclamation states.

Millions of people around the world participate in Denim Day on the last Wednesday of April every year. It is not just about wearing jeans. It is a day millions of people stand united against sexual violence and promote a culture of consent.

According to the CDC, over 50% of women in the U.S. and approximately one third of men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetime. Almost half of female rape survivors were raped before the age of 18. However, according to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), only about 25 per 1,000 perpetrators will go to prison.

The official Denim Day website identifies 15 ways to end rape culture:

  1. Recognize that people neither ask for nor deserve to be abused, harassed, assaulted or raped—ever.
  2. Support and believe survivors of sexual violence.
  3. Bring awareness and challenge victim-blaming statements.
  4. Give constructive input about why comments or jokes that perpetuate rape culture or sexism are not okay.
  5. Get help or take action by directly intervening when you see someone taking advantage of a person who is not capable of giving consent.
  6. Consent is mandatory and every sexual interaction you have must be consensual–no excuse. Educate yourself on what it means to get and give consent.
  7. Build and engage in healthy, respectful relationships.
  8. Pledge to never commit or condone any acts of violence.
  9. Think critically about how the media depicts sexuality.
  10. Take a self-defense class. Your mind, your voice and your body are powerful tools for prevention.
  11. Teach your children, friends, parents and peers about the myths and realities of sexual assault.
  12. Donate your time or money to your local rape crisis center.
  13. Find out what your local K-12 school board’s policy is on anti-rape and violence prevention education and get involved. If it is not proactive, change it!
  14. Lobby your local, state and federal legislators for funding for anti-sexual assault programs.
  15. If you witness sexual harassment at the workplace or in public places, expose the behavior. Don’t tolerate it.

There is never an excuse for sexual assault or harassment.

Voting Is Open for Chugach Board of Directors

Todd M Lindley
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Voting Is Open for Chugach Board of Directors

Today is the day, April 29, voting is officially open for the election of the Board of Directors for Chugach Electric.

First, everyone should have received an email from Survey and Ballot Systems confirming the email on file is the correct email.

Chugach Electric Election Email Validation
Survey and Ballot Systems Email

Next, knowing how to vote is important. Chugach Electric has put together a ‘How To’ on their YouTube page to help you on the voting process. Voting Made Easy – 2026 Election

Please share this will all your friends, family, neighbors, and businesses to make sure they know what their ballot looks like, the information they need to vote, and most importantly … VOTE!

Scout, Handeland, and Park Join Anchorage Assembly

Natalie Spaulding
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Scout, Handeland, and Park Join Anchorage Assembly

Last night at the April 28 Regular Assembly Meeting, the Anchorage Assembly certified the 2026 municipal election results and swore in new members Sydney Scout (District 1: North Anchorage), Donald Handeland (District 2: Eagle River, Chugiak, JBER), and Janice Park (District 4: Midtown). The three new members were sworn in with re-elected members Anna Brawley (District 3: West Anchorage), George Martinez (District 5: East Anchorage), and Zac Johnson (District 6: South Anchorage).

The Midtown race was exceptionally close with Janice Park receiving only 26 more votes than Dave Donley. The Anchorage Election Commission conducted a recount and found “no changes in the outcome of the Assembly District 4 – Seat G race.” The full recount certification document can be found here: 12.A.2.–AM 313-2026.pdf.

Also at last night’s meeting, the Assembly elected Anna Brawley (District 3) to Chair and Daniel Volland (District 1) to Vice Chair via a secret ballot vote.

New Member Biographies

Sydney Scout, District 1

Sydney Scout is a born and raised Anchorage kid and a proud product of our public schools; she graduated from Dimond High School and the APU Early Honors program. Sydney left home for college and earned her Bachelors degree from Oregon State University, followed by a Masters of Public Policy and Graduate Certificate in Energy Policy and Management from Portland State University.

Sydney worked in Anchorage’s service industry throughout high school, then was employed on her college campuses where she supported successful unionization efforts. She has spent the past decade-plus organizing to advance workers’ rights, clean and affordable energy, and local civic engagement. This work brought her across the country and ultimately, home to Anchorage, where she is an active and engaged member of a housing cooperative, supporter of local nonprofits, and outdoor enthusiast.

Scout will serve on the Rules Committee-of-the-Whole, Budget and Finance Committee-of-the-Whole, and the Infrastructure, Enterprise & Utility Oversight Committee-of-the-Whole.

Donald Handeland, District 2

Donald Handeland has not provided a biography.

He will serve on the Rules Committee-of-the-Whole, Budget and Finance Committee-of-the-Whole, and the Infrastructure, Enterprise & Utility Oversight Committee-of-the-Whole​

Janice Park, District 4

A 27-year resident of Midtown, Park brings a diverse professional background to the Anchorage Assembly. She has worked extensively as a registered nurse and a paralegal, and for 15 years, she co-owned and operated a commercial water treatment business serving the North Slope and local areas. Driven by a strong desire to help others, Janice later attended the paralegal program at the University of Alaska Anchorage. She put this education to use by successfully arguing her own case before the Alaska Supreme Court, setting a state precedent for marital property rights. She spent 13 years working alongside former Alaska State Senator Patrick Rodey, dedicating much of her time to pro bono work, assisting vulnerable women with domestic violence, divorce, and custody cases.

On the Assembly, Janice focuses on securing vital municipal funding from the state. She seeks to prioritize directing resources toward critical public programs, specifically those addressing homelessness, substance abuse, and mental health issues. She is dedicated to finding practical, results-oriented solutions to keep essential city services effective for everyone. Outside of public service, Janice has four children, seven grandchildren, and a very good pup named Dougal. She remains deeply committed to ensuring all of Anchorage is a vibrant, safe place to live.

Park will serve on the Rules Committee-of-the-Whole, Budget and Finance Committee-of-the-Whole, and the Infrastructure, Enterprise & Utility Oversight Committee-of-the-Whole​

Chair and Vice Chair Biographies

Assembly Chair Anna Brawley, District 3

​Anna B. Brawley is a planner, project manager, and owns a small consulting firm in Anchorage, with a background in history and urban planning. She likes learning how complex systems work, such as cities, and how to improve them.

Before serving on the Assembly, Anna has served as chair of the Anchorage Budget Advisory Commission, an officer for Spenard and Turnagain Community Councils, on the board of NeighborWorks Alaska, and as a community advocate. She lives in Turnagain with her family and two highly opinionated cats. When not working, she enjoys gardening, creative projects, biking, walking, and Nordic skiing.​

Brawley serves as Assembly Chair, Co-Chair of Budget and Finance Committee-of-the-Whole, and Rules Committee-of-the-Whole Chair. She also serves on the Community and Economic Development Committee, Housing and Homelessness Committee, Municipal Audit Committee, Public Health & Safety Committee, Quality Municipal Services Committee, Transportation Committee, and Infrastructure, Enterprise & Utility Oversight Committee-of-the-Whole. Additionally, she is Liaison to the Alaska Municipal League and Liaison to the National League of Cities.

Assembly Vice Chair Daniel Volland, District 1

Daniel is a licensed optometric physician and owner of an independent eye care clinic in downtown Anchorage. He has also provided eye care throughout rural Alaska. Arriving by small plane, boat, snow machine, ATV, and sled, he has performed pop-up eye clinics in over thirty Alaskan communities. Daniel has served as Vice Chair of the South Addition Community Council and has volunteered on the council’s Neighborhood Plan Committee and Land Use Committee. Additionally, he has served on the boards of the Arctic Encounter Symposium and the Alaska World Affairs Council, and been an involved member of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee, Young Professionals Group, and the Anchorage East Rotary Club. In 2021, he was honored to be awarded “Alaska Young Professional of the Year” by his peers. He loves being in nature and exploring Alaska, whether it’s packrafting, backcountry ice-skating, hiking, or walking his dog, Juniper, on the Coastal Trail. Daniel is honored to represent North Anchorage, one of the most diverse districts in the United States. He is passionate about helping Anchorage be a safe, welcoming community that creates opportunity for all. ​

Volland serves as Assembly Vice Chair, Vice Chair of Rules Committee-of-the-Whole, Co-Chair of Budget and Finance Committee-of-the-Whole, Transportation Committee Chair. He also serves on the Municipal Audit Committee, the AMATS Policy Committee, and the Infrastructure, Enterprise & Utility Oversight Committee-of-the-Whole​. He is also an Ex Officio Member of the Anchorage Community Development Authority (ACDA) and a member of the Safe Routes to School Working Group.

Biographies for all Assembly Members can be found at here: Contact the Assembly.

Assembly Certifies 2026 Regular Municipal Election, Elects Chair and Vice ChairDownload

Anchorage Seeks to Establish New Public Safety Advisory Commission

Natalie Spaulding
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Anchorage Seeks to Establish New Public Safety Advisory Commission

Anchorage, AK is one of the most dangerous cities in America. From March 2025- March 2026, there have been approximately 2,500 cases of violent crime reported by the Anchorage Police Department, according to the FBI Crime Data Explorer. Now, the Anchorage Assembly seeks to establish a new Public Safety Advisory Commission.

According to a press release from the Anchorage Assembly, the new Public Safety Advisory Commission will build on a “year-long effort to improve dialogue, transparency, and resident engagement in public safety systems.”

The proposed ordinance would amend Anchorage Municipal Code to create a community led advisory body focused on policy review, public engagement, and system-level recommendations. The Commission would include 14 members, consisting of nine voting commissioners and five non-voting ex officio representatives from key public safety departments.

The press release states that the Commission is “designed to reflect a broad cross section of the community including individuals with lived experience, relevant subject-matter expertise, and behavioral or mental health backgrounds, while maintaining independence through limits on current or recent ties to municipal public safety agencies.”

Assembly Member Felix Rivera, one of the ordinance’s authors along with Assembly Vice Chair Anna Brawley and Assembly Member Kameron Perez-Verdia, stated: “This proposal reflects extensive community input and thoughtful deliberation about how to build stronger relationships between residents, public safety agencies, and local government. Our goal is to create a durable, community-centered forum that can help guide public safety policy and ensure that a wide range of voices are heard.”

AO 2026-62 is scheduled to be introduced at today’s (April 28) Regular Assembly Meeting. Public hearing is scheduled for May 26.

Read the full proposed ordinance below:

AO2026-62Download

1,000 Alaskans Protest Genocide of the Unborn

Natalie Spaulding
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1,000 Alaskans Protest Genocide of the Unborn

On Saturday, April 25, about one thousand Alaskans gathered downtown Anchorage to protest the legalized killing of unborn children. The 2026 Alaska March for Life started at 12:00 p.m. at Anchorage Lutheran Church and ended at the Delaney Park strip at the intersection of 9th Ave and E St.

The group held a rally following the march, featuring President of March for Life Jenni Lichter, Pro-Life Democrat Terrisa Bukovinac, Father James Moore of Holy Family Cathedral, Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox, Paster Gabriel Webb of Response Church, President of Students for Life at Holy Rosary Academy Giovanni Moceri-Guillen, Reverend David Terwilliger of All Saints Episcopal Church, National Speaker Priscilla Hurley, Care Pregnancy Center Executive Director Greg Monrad, and President of Alaska Family Council Jim Minnery.

The rally began with the National Anthem sung by the Holy Rosary Academy Choir and the Pledge of Allegiance led by the American Heritage Girls.

Several protesters came on stage to speak about their signs and why they showed up for the march. The signs had messages such as “Fatherhood begins in the womb,” “In the face of evil, we stand,” “You were once a fetus,” “Pray to end abortion,” “The violence of abortion must end,” and “life is a gift.”

The rally was attended by a wide variety of people: conservatives and liberals, Christians and atheists, teenagers and seniors, rich and poor, mothers and fathers. All were united in defense of the inalienable right to life for all.

Candidates for Governor Matt Heilala, Shelley Hughes, and Adam Crum shared their pro-life convictions. Heilala told the crowd how his mother was pressured to abort him, but she chose life. Hughes shared her testimony of her pro-life beliefs being challenged when she found herself unexpectedly pregnant. She chose life for her son and encourages others who chose life to share their testimonies. Crum expressed a vision of a world where “abortion is never an option, because these babies are loved and God is good.”

One of the speakers, Terrisa Bukovinac, said, “I am a leftist and an atheist… They are trying to divide us, but there is a literal genocide of the unborn.” Terrisa then invited her husband on stage with her original song “Pro-Life Revolution.”

“When I stand here, I’m not talking about policy or politics. I’m talking about my wife. My family,” stated Stephen Cox, speaking as a husband and a father. He shared that his mother-in-law was encouraged to abort her youngest child, but she did not listen. She chose life for Cristina, who now has a beautiful family of her own with Stephen.

Priscilla Hurley shared her journey as a woman who survived an abortion attempt, had two abortions of her own, and worked in an abortion clinic until her life took a 180 after another near-death experience. She became a Christian after surviving a near fatal car crash, and from that moment on, she saw abortion for the evil that it is.

In an interview with Fox News in 2024, Priscilla stated, “As an abortion survivor, there’s always that layer of, ‘I’m not seen, I’m not valued’ where you don’t really think your voice matters. I finally found my voice at the age of 30, and I decided to have my son.”

The 2026 Alaska March for Life was a powerful display of people united against the injustice of abortion.

Opinion: Haines Assembly Member’s $10K Offer Draws a Line on Taxpayer Funding

SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
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Opinion: Haines Assembly Member’s $10K Offer Draws a Line on Taxpayer Funding


By Brenda Josephson

Haines is a small community with a declining population, yet its local government continues to increase the tax burden on those who remain.

A local government’s currency is the goodwill of its citizens. With unmitigated spending, it eventually runs out of other people’s money—and the public’s goodwill.

Assembly Member Mark Smith brought that reality into sharp focus, and he did it in a way no one expected: by offering to personally donate $10,000 to a charity if it would withdraw its request for taxpayer funding.

As the discussion unfolded, during an April 14th Haines Borough assembly meeting, the tone in the room shifted. This was not a routine debate over a budget line. It was something else entirely.

Chilkat Valley Preschool had come before the Assembly, seeking borough assistance for startup costs to expand its childcare services. The organization stated it is working to modify its license from serving children ages 3 to 7 to serving children from birth through age 7— an effort aimed at addressing what it identifies as the community’s most significant childcare gap.

The daycare requested taxpayer funds, stating they were needed for startup costs related to state licensing, including cribs, high chairs, changing tables, sanitation stations, and other infant care necessities.

And it’s worth noting that the borough had prior involvement. The preschool already benefits from local government support, including use of a borough facility and access to a sales-tax-free purchasing structure.

Smith did not challenge the need. Instead, he challenged the assumption behind the request.

Moments earlier, the conversation had been following a familiar path: identify a community need, look to the borough to help fund it, and move forward. But Smith interrupted that pattern— not with opposition, but with an alternative.

Smith stated he would fund it himself, offering to donate $10,000 if they withdrew the request for taxpayer funds.

For a moment, the room went quiet. Then came spontaneous applause. It was not polite or staged— it was immediate and unprompted, the kind of reaction that tells you people understood they had just witnessed something different.

Because this was not just about the money. It was about the line he drew.

The need is real. Childcare matters. In a small, remote community like Haines, gaps in services occur. But Smith’s response reframed the issue.

His argument is straightforward: when government steps in to fund community or charitable services, it can crowd out the very private support those organizations need to become sustainable. When people are required to contribute through taxes, they are often less willing to contribute on their own and over time, that weakens the kind of community-driven solutions small towns depend on.

And there are signs that a community-based solution is already possible. The preschool itself noted it has secured funding through grants, local businesses, and community support to remain operational through the current school year. It is working toward a more sustainable model. The foundation is already there.

Smith’s offer challenged that model to stand on its own, stating, “Build something people will choose to support— not something they are required to fund.”

That distinction matters, especially in a town like Haines.

Smith explained that Haines does not have a growing tax base with room to expand commitments. It is a small, remote community with a shrinking population and limited economic activity. Fewer residents mean fewer dollars to spread across the same— and often, increasing— demands driven by the government itself. Every new obligation does not just exist on paper; it lands directly on the shoulders of the people who remain.

He continued, “Local government has a role: public safety, infrastructure, and essential services that cannot be provided any other way. Beyond that, every expenditure becomes a question of limits.”

Those limits, he argued, are already being tested. “The issue isn’t whether childcare is important. It is. The issue is whether every important need becomes a responsibility of government to fund.” Because if the answer is yes, then there is no limit— and that is a path a small community like Haines cannot afford to follow.

What happened in that assembly meeting was not just a generous act. It was a statement, a reminder that in a small town, community responsibility still matters and that not every problem should be handed to government to solve.

Because eventually, the math wins. You cannot keep asking fewer people to pay more and expect it to keep working.

And when you get close to that breaking point, people do not just accept it. They respond.

In Haines, voters have already responded once by approving a citizens’ petition to increase the
senior property tax exemption to $300,000 in the October 2024 election.

The pushback is not just theoretical. At that same meeting, a petition with 527 signatures was presented, seeking relief from a new seasonal sales tax. Collected in just one week, it represents a substantial share of borough voters. In a community where local seats can be won with fewer votes, the message was unmistakable: taxpayers feel the burden has gone too far.

That will not be the last response. If the pressure continues, more citizens’ petitions can be expected, because when taxpayers feel pushed too far, they do not stay quiet. They organize.

The question is not whether there are limits. It is whether local government recognizes them before the public forces the issue themselves.

Brenda Josephson is a Haines resident.

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