Frequently Asked Questions

The Borough is a very large place. We have large maps of the entire Borough, and detailed maps of each village. For each village, we have maps with streets and buildings, or topographical, or usage maps.

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Communities who experience a natural disaster should contact the Borough as soon as possible at 907-246-3421 or contact Danica Wilson.  If you cannot contact us, a village can declare a disaster on their own by contacting the State of Alaska.

Lake and Peninsula Borough does not levey property tax.  In fact, there is no state, borough, or municipal tax on any property within Lake and Peninsula Borough.

We do not have GIS data, but we do have maps. 

Chapters 9.06 and 9.07 of the code explain the process of subdivisions and development permits, respectively. You can also find flowcharts for Minor Subdivision, Major Subdivision, and Development Permits.(LINK)

If you have any questions feel free to call Danica Wilson, Community Development Coordinator at 907-246-3421.

In Lake and Peninsula Borough, the Clerk is an employee, not an elected official. My supervisor is the Borough Manager. I work closely with all elected officials and employees.

The position of Borough Clerk is established by code. My responsibilities include:

• Giving notice and attend meetings
• Maintaining and making available ordinances, resolutions regulations and codes
• Performing duties as specified by mayor or assembly
• Recording the actions of the assembly
• Administering oaths
• Administering elections
• Acting as parliamentarian

At each Assembly meeting there is “Citizen’s Comments” section. During this time on the agenda anyone (not only citizens) may address the assembly with any topic. The assembly cannot take a vote on a topic not under “New Business” or “Old Business” on the agenda, but they can direct staff or request a topic on the next agenda.  

If a person needs the Assembly's vote on a topic it is recommended they contact the Borough Manager or the Clerk and discuss the need.

The Assembly meetings at least nine times a year. They do not hold regular meetings in June or July due to fishing season, or in December. The assembly does hold special meetings as needed.  

To make the most efficient use of meeting time, non-controversial items and routine items are sometimes grouped together on a “consent agenda,” with only one motion required for action. Items of business on the consent agenda may be considered individually at the time that the consent agenda is discussed if requested by a member of the governing body. 

The Assembly may meet anywhere if the meeting is noticed. It is not uncommon for the meetings to be held by teleconference or zoom.  We have met in villages and once we even met while on a ferry bound for Chignik! In November each year the Assembly has historically met in Anchorage. This allows consultants, state officials, and guest speakers to participate. The November meeting is usually a couple days long and may include workshops and receptions. 

We weigh the following considerations:

• health and safety needs (ie. barge landings; docks and schools)
• economic development (ie docks harbors and airports)
• basic community needs (community buildings, water/sewer projects, energy and roads);
• working with funding partners. Some projects are built by the state with LPB cooperation and non-financial support as well as partnering with other agencies.
• financial ability/support to complete the projects.

We consider:

• Assembly and local financial and non-financial support;
• Recon study, Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate, preliminary engineering studies
• Overall benefit to village and surrounding communities. 

You should call a Borough employee:

• Nathan Hill, Manager
• Kate Conley, Borough Clerk
• Danica Wilson, Economic Development Staffer

The Manager is the chief executive officer. All staff report directly to the manager. Manager reports directly to the assembly. He as well on the occasions the mayor will represent the borough in meeting with outside officials and funding sources.

The Borough was formed to address education and economic needs at a regional levels. 

I enjoy working with residents of the borough and seeing projects come to fruition. I also like working for an assembly and staff that has the best interests of the Borough in their hearts.

If you have a fisheries-related question or concern, you can reach out to LPB staff and we can help point you in the right direction. Alternatively, you can contact one of LPB's fishery policy advisors. If you live in the Lake Iliamna area you can reach out to Dr. Rachel Donkersloot. If you live on the Peninsula, you can contact Chuck McCallum. 

There are many ways to get more involved in the processes and decisions impacting our fisheries and communities. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council meets five times a year and makes decisions impacting our federal fisheries (3-200 miles offshore), including our halibut fishery. You can subscribe to NPFMC's newsletter on their main webpage. The Board of Fisheries has a three year meeting cycle. You can sign up to join the BOF email list here to stay up-to-date on meeting schedules, proposals, and regulation changes. Another great way to get involved is to join or participate in your region's Advisory Committee. Advisory Committees are local groups that meet regularly to discuss locally relevant fishery issues, and make recommendations to the Alaska Board of Fisheries. You can also reach out to LPB's fishery policy advisors to discuss other ways to engage in fishery management and decision-making processes. 

Check out the Board of Fisheries website for the most up-to-date information on BOF meeting schedules. 

Three websites to track fisheries disasters are: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/; http://www.psmfc.org/fishery-disaster-programs; and, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/funding-and-financial-services/fishery-disaster-determinations. For more information call Borough fishery advisor Chuck McCallum at (907) 351-9107. 

The fishery announcements can be found here

There are many types of businesses in the Borough, however, the only businesses that are tracked by the Borough are businesses that are tied to Fish Processing, Professional Guides, overnight accommodations i.e. lodges, hotels, cabins, and camps, or the removal of any raw materials from the land. There is approximately 11 Fish Processing operations, 38 Professional Guide Outfitters, and 68 Lodges/Hotels/Cabins/Camps operating in the borough.

The only taxes collected in the Borough are Raw Fish Tax, Bed Tax, Guide Tax, and Severance Tax. If your business is operating in Fish Processing, Professional Guides, overnight accommodations i.e. lodges, hotels, cabins, and camps, or removing raw materials from the ground, you will need to fill out the appropriate tax return.

If you are starting a business that will operate in the Borough, your first step is to fill out and obtain an Alaska State Business License. You can start that process by going to their website at: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/BusinessLicensing/NewBLOnline.aspx. If your business is operating as either Fish Processing, Professional Guides, or overnight accommodations i.e. lodges, hotels, cabins, and camps, then you will need to fill out a Business License Application.

The only businesses that are required by the Borough to have a business license to operate in the borough are businesses that are tied to Fish Processing, Professional Guides, or overnight accommodations i.e. lodges, hotels, cabins, and camps.

The Borough Staff is happy to help on the Borough Tax Forms. Please feel free to reach out to us at 907 246-3421 or via email at finance@lakeandpen.com or asstfinance@lakeandpen.com.

Lake and eninsula Borough assess a raw fish tax, a bed tax, a guide tax and a severance tax.

If you know someone who should be filing tax returns with the borough, you may reach out via email at finance@lakeandpen.com 

Guide Tax and Raw Fish Tax are filed and due quarterly while Bed Tax returns are filed monthly during a lodge's operation.

Any person or company who either rents a lodge or hotel room, hires a guide, catches fish commerically, or extracts minerals within the borough pays either bed tax, guide tax, raw fish tax, or severance tax.  

The Expenses of the Borough mainly go into six categories. These categories consist of:

1. Overhead – This includes Assembly, Planning Commission, Administration, and Election Expenses. 
2. School District – These expenses include the annual allocation, Preschool transfer, CTE Program, and School Construction Bond Payment (Borough’s Portion Only). 
3. Fishery Related – These expenses include a fishery consultant and an annual budget for the Board of Fish annual meetings. 
4. Communities Related – These expenses include State Revenue passed through the Borough, Borough Revenue Share, Capital Project Fund, and Iliamna Barge Landing Maintenance. 
5. Permanent Fund Transfer – There is a goal of the Borough to set aside 20% of the Raw Fish Tax on an annual basis to put into investments to generate a Permanent Fund for the residents of the borough. 
6. Other Expenses – This consists of contingency funds, donations, and other miscellaneous expenses. 

The revenue for the Borough is derived from five main areas.  Those areas are:

1. Taxes – Raw Fish Tax, Bed Tax, and Guide Tax. 
2. License, Permits, Leases, and Rents – These areas of revenue come from Business License, Permits, Development Permits, Land Use Permits, Teacher Housing Rents, and Land Leases. 
3. Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and Payment in Lieu of Development (PILD) – These categories are in place of taxes that could be or could have been received. 
4. Investment Income – This income is derived from interest and market gain/(loss) on the investment portfolio. 
5. State Revenue – This is funds from the State of Alaska for community assistance (formerly Community Revenue Share), business tax, and fish tax. 

The Borough has reserves held in investment accounts.

Borough mainly spends tax money in six areas.  Those areas are School District, Overhead, Permanent Fund Transfer, Community Related, Fishery Related, and Other Expenses.  These are listed in order of percentage of total expenses.    

Yes.  Call us at 907-246-3421.

Yes, the Borough accepts online or telephonic credit card payments.

While the school district is a subsidiary of the Borough, their finances are independent of the Borough. The school district website is lpsd.com

The Borough does not levy a property tax; therefore, the Borough does not assess property values or track property ownership.  You may be able to research a property history with the State Recorder's database.

To obtain information about assistance programs, use the Benefit Information Hotline at 1-888-804-6330

At this time there are no scheduled tax rate increases.  In fact, the borough has not raised the fish tax rate since inception.

You can register to vote in Alaska by completing a Voter Registration Application and presenting it in person to the Division of Elections, a voter registrar in your community, a city or borough clerk, or a voter registration agency (DMV, Health and Social Services, Community and Economic Development, recruitment offices of the armed forces of the United States located in Alaska). You may mail it to Region I Elections Office, PO Box 110018; Juneau, AK 99811-0018. You may also register to vote online at: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/ot.php - complete the application, then print, sign, and send the document.

You can change your registration record on the same form that is used for an original registration. You may complete a voter registration application and present it in person to the Division of Elections, to a city or borough clerk, or to a voter registration agency(DMV, Health and Social Services, Community and Economic Development, recruitment offices of the armed forces of the United States located in Alaska). You may mail it to Region I Elections Office, PO Box 110018; Juneau, AK 99811-0018. You may also change your registration to vote online at: http://www.elections.alaska.gov/ot.php - complete the application, then print, sign, and send the document.

The deadline to register is 30 days before an election, but voters are encouraged to register as soon as possible.

A person may vote at any election who is a citizen of the United States, and:

• 18 years of age or older,
• has been a resident of the state and of the election district in which the person seeks to vote for at least 30 days just before the election,
• has registered before the election registration deadline, and
• is not registered to vote in another jurisdiction.    

Portions of your voter record are confidential: voter number, social security number, date of birth, place of birth, phone numbers and residence address, if you choose to keep that confidential. Other portions such as name, mailing address, political preference are public information.

Lake and Peninsula Borough villages are all designated as “absentee-by-mail” precincts by the Assembly. This means a ballot will be mailed to each registered voter’s address. Ballots cannot be forwarded by the post office, so it is important that you update your voter registration. Instructions for voting along with a return envelope are enclosed with each ballot. 

A by-mail election is an election in which there are no polling places for regular voting in person on Election Day. Instead, a ballot is automatically mailed to each registered voter in the Borough. Once you have received your ballot, simply vote following the instructions included with the ballot and return it to the Borough Clerk in the postage paid envelope enclosed with the ballot.

A notice of election poster of information about the by-mail election will be posted in each precinct before the election. The posters give information about the election, why it is being held, when ballots will be mailed to voters, and deadlines for registration and voting. The notice of election is also published in the Alaska Daily News and will be posted on the Lake and Peninsula Borough website: www.lakeandpen.com . Note: All elections in Lake and Peninsula Borough are by-mail.

At least twenty days before the date of the election, the Borough Clerk will mail a ballot to each registered voter at the address listed on their current voter registration.

Not to worry! Call your Borough Clerk at 907-246-3421 to get a ballot sent by fax or email. You can complete it and email or fax it back.

As soon as your ballot arrives in the mail, open the envelope and prepare your ballot:

• Mark your ballot choosing candidates
• Enclose the ballot in the gray secrecy envelope.
• Place the gray envelope inside the yellow outer envelope.
• Complete the three sections on the outer yellow envelope:
• ID: Write in either your date of birth or voter ID number
• Signature: Sign the ballot in the presence of two witnesses over the age of 18.
• Witnesses: Have your witnesses sign the ballot
• Seal the yellow envelope and mail prior to or on election day. No postage is necessary if mailing from within the USA.
• Ask the postal worker to date stamp your ballot.

If you have questions call the Borough at 907-246-3421.