A new budget and mandatory COVID-19 testing for all travelers—Skagway’s Assembly made big moves on Thursday night.
The assembly passed Skagway’s 2021 budget and changed the financial year to be in line with the calendar year. The budget draws heavily on the municipality’s reserves and slashes capital projects. Manager Brad Ryan said the document will be revisited frequently as the municipality learns more about the potential of a 2021 tourist season.
Veteran assembly member Orion Hanson lauded borough staff for the process: “This has been one of the smoother budget processes—the smoothest budget process—I’ve been a part of in my four years on the assembly, and I thank you,” he said.
The assembly passed a COVID-19 mandate for travelers. Travelers must have negative test results or follow strict social distancing and masking requirements. The mandate bars travelers without a negative COVID-19 test result from large social gatherings and entering businesses. The motion passed 4 to 2. Assembly members Sam Bass and Steve Burnham were opposed.
For-profit childcare centers will be eligible for municipal support, but only for three more years. That’s following an update to the Community Funding Grant program which historically funded the childcare centers, butis now otherwise limited to funding non-profits.
Assembly member Reba Hylton supported the measure.
“I believe when a community supports our families, which really is what this is doing, we’re building from the ground up, and the foundation is stronger and better. And I believe it’s important that that’s where we put our resources… no one ever got into childcare to make a million dollars. Like, that’s just not the business,” she said.
After 2023, for-profit childcare centers will no longer be eligible for municipal Community Funding grants. They will be notified of the change in a letter and may be eligible for funding through Skagway Development Corporation’s programs.
The assembly also approved the purchase of a $25,000 testing machine that detects COVID-19, the flu, and strep throat. The money will come from the clinic’s federal CARES Act funding.
A previous version of this story misstated how for-profit daycare centers will be funded. The centers are eligible for funding through the Community Funding Grant.
