Wrangell officials project a $225,000 budget deficit for the upcoming 2021 fiscal year. While the city is not suggesting raising taxes or laying people off, finance director Joyce Mason says there will be cuts across the board. Some jobs may be lost through attrition.

“A couple of positions where people have either retired or moved on, we’re planning on not filling those at this time,” Mason says.

This includes full or half time positions at the library, police, public works, and Wrangell Municipal Light and Power. Wrangell’s sole Division of Motor Vehicles employee retired in March. That office would remain closed. 

Travel and some capital funding projects have been reduced across departments.

Wrangell’s city anticipates large hits to its revenue streams, partly due to COVID-19. The city expects $700,000 less in sales tax than received the previous year. Mason attributes that to less visitors and seasonal workers this summer.

“There’s very little tourism and very little fish processing, because a plant isn’t running,” Mason says.

Same goes for revenues from Wrangell’s public facilities. The museum is missing out on tourism dollars. And Parks and Recreation won’t make what it’s used to in summer program entry fees. 

But federal CARES Act funding could offset the city’s general fund. The city is using that money for COVID-19 specific responses, including an isolation facility and COVID-19 testing for cannery workers. But it can also reimburse staff wages. 

“Anybody’s that doing direct duties that pertain to COVID-19, we can get funding from the CARES act for their wages,” Mason says.

Mason says this includes first responder wages, such as the police and fire department, as well as administrative staff whose duties have shifted to COVID-19.

The city estimates $350,000 in wage reimbursement. That funding is reflected in the city’s budget.

According to a budget memo, city staff recommend using General Fund reserves to make up for the $225,000 budget deficit. But the assembly will also consider a number of reductions. 

The city may place a wage freeze on its employees. That would mean no step increases, estimated to save $55,000. The city may also reduce its contribution to city employee’s health insurance, saving up to $130,000 in a year.

The assembly will consider cutting funding city hall pays out to local nonprofits like the Chamber of Commerce, Wrangell Senior Center, and KSTK. That totals $47,000.

The Wrangell assembly will hold a final budget meeting and public hearing at 5:30 p.m.Tuesday. KSTK will broadcast that meeting.

The post Wrangell to wrap up FY’21 budget appeared first on KSTK.

The potential closure of Wrangell’s tiny fish and game office was sore news to David Powell.

“I go to that office say about eight to 10 times a year,” says Powell, an avid sportsman, who picks up his elk and moose tags from the local office. 

He also sits on Wrangell’s assembly. He says that, of course, a lot can be done online. But having Fish and Game representatives in town is an important resource in a town where just about everyone hunts and fishes and needs to keep up on the rules.

“I know ignorance is no excuse, but it would be a lot easier to go up there and have the questions answered that we have, rather than trying to find them online,” Powell says.

No other Fish and Game office is on the governor’s chopping block. A budget document says it’ll save around $70,000 in general fund spending. 

Agency officials defended the move.

“There are many communities in Alaska that don’t have a Fish and Game office,” says Rick Green, a top Fish and Game official appointed by Gov. Dunleavy. 

“The commissioner is confident we can continue to effectively manage the fish, wildlife and aquatic plants, which is our charter, and doesn’t see not having that office as getting in the way,” Green says.

All field projects, like research on the Stikine River and fish counting in the summer will continue just the same.

Green says few commercial fishing permits have been issued out of the Wrangell office. And any requests for information are just a phone call or internet search away.

Closing the office sheds one local job. And it moves another to Petersburg. 

Wrangell City Mayor Steve Prysunka says local government wasn’t consulted. 

“We are expected to just accept this, that this is all right. Well it’s not all right,” Prysunka says. “I don’t accept it, and I won’t accept it, and I’m mad as hell about it.”

Wrangell has lost a number of state offices over the years. It used to have an Office of Children’s Services worker. And a state public health nurse. Those positions have been cut or moved out of town. 

“And now you’re telling me Fish and Game is going to be relocated to Petersburg. We are not an insignificant community,” Prysunka says.

Prysunka has taken up the issue with his Rep. Dan Ortiz. The independent Ketchikan lawmaker told KSTK he’ll advocate for the small office when the legislature convenes in Juneau next month. 

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