Viewpoints
Raw fish tax: Shame on the City Council
By
Tom Fisher
November 05, 2010
Friday AM
I read with complete dismay that the City Council raided the Raw Fish Tax to fund two police officers. I am not opposed to the two officers however I wonder how can the council pass the red face test. The tourism industry has received all the infrastructure improvements that this industry needs and yet the fishing industry is tying up to worn out floats, and there is obviously no need for basic items like a restroom in Thomas Basin. The Head tax can only be used for tourism related infrastructure yet the fish tax can be used for general government, forget that there are a lot of resident commercial fishermen, that pay sales tax, property tax and contribute dollars to the local economy.
It is no wonder the fishing fleet has moved to other ports as it is clearly obvious if you are a commercial fisherman in Ketchikan you are a second class business and the only reason we want a commercial fishing vessel in Ketchikan is so tourists can take a few pictures.
Shame on the City Council.
Tom Fisher
F/V Carol W
Ketchikan, AK
About: "Commercial salmon troller, I have trolled out of Ketchikan for 37 years, and born and raised in Ketchikan."
Received November 03, 2010
- Published November 05, 2010
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