Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan has proposed a budget that would double the registration taxes for aircraft within the municipality in 2011.
Currently, single-engine aircraft owners pay $75 and twin-engine aircraft owners pay $125 annually. That would increase to $150 and $250, respectively. AOPA encourages owners to share how the tax increase could impact them with the mayor and their Assembly member and then attend a public hearing on the subject during an Anchorage Assembly meeting Nov. 9.
“The hearing is an opportunity for aircraft owners to have their voice heard,” said AOPA Manager of Airport Policy John Collins. “AOPA is working in conjunction with the Alaska Airmen's Association and local Airport Support Network volunteers and will be sending out an Action Alert to our members within the municipality listing further steps to take to fight this increase.”
The registration tax was implemented in 1995 as an alternative to a personal property tax and has not been adjusted since inception. The increase would raise an extra $210,000 in revenue for the proposed $435 million budget from the 2,431 aircraft registered within the municipality of Anchorage. It also proposes increases to vehicle registration taxes; due to a state law requiring a one-year notification period, those would go into effect in 2012.
The public will be able to comment on the proposed budget and specifically this registration tax increase during the regular Anchorage Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 9, from 5 to 11 p.m. at the Loussac Library, Assembly Chambers, 3600 Denali, Room 108, in Anchorage. The hearing (Public Hearing AO 2010-81) starts at 6 p.m.
