Sitkans received a $300 credit on their December utility bills after the city assembly voted to share some of the higher-than-expected sales tax revenues with the public.
The assembly voted to spend just over $1 million on the program, distributing the money to every residential utility account in town.
Sitka saw a record number of cruise ship visitors last summer, swelling the sales tax coffers but also inconveniencing residents.
In passing the appropriation in November, assembly members said they wanted citizens to receive some compensation for the inconveniences they endured in the visit of 560,000 passengers this year and 380,000 last year.
The ordinance passed 5-2.
“This is about affordability,” Assembly member Tim Pike said, in voting in favor of the ordinance on Nov. 14. “This is the opportunity for the city to cut back on people’s costs. ... I don’t view it as a gift or a giveaway.”
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