Salary in Delta Junction, Alaska (Deltana, North Pole: school, maintenance, property taxes)

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by roadfamily6now

There are no property taxes in Delta

I believe that you are correct. That will soon change, however, once they have their own borough. The reason why that will happen is because most of the property tax is to pay for school, fire, etc.

Meanwhile, I have no idea how they are paying for this:
http://www.ci.delta-junction.ak.us

[gobrien]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

I believe that you are correct. That will soon change, however, once they have their own borough. The reason why that will happen is because most of the property tax is to pay for school, fire, etc.

Meanwhile, I have no idea how they are paying for this:
City of Delta Junction ~ Home Page

The city does receive PILT's -payment in lieu of taxes, from the Pogo mine, possibly more businesses, I don't know. Also received money from the government to build a new school, library, etc when they were setting up missile defense. The town had an election about setting up a borough and it was defeated.

[gobrien]

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v...D=1396749&om=1

I found an old story in the Delta Wind on PILT's. Maybe the archives will have a story on your prospective employer, Jilly.

[heathen]

I don't have time right now to read this whole thread, but I'll just say that I currently live in Delta, and I like it very much. If you have any specific questions about the area, I'd be glad to answer. I work for the local Soil and Water Conservation District (small employer, no jobs open - maybe seasonals in April-May) and make something less than 40K / year including large chunks of unpaid leave. This salary is far more than I need considering I have no dependants. I live in a small dry cabin (without running water) and pay a very low rent of $550/month, but this is a lifestyle choice rather than fiscal requirement. The cabin next to mine is open if anyone's interested. Almost new, very simple but not trashy, 16x16 with half loft, first 100 gallons of fuel free. 100 gallons has brought me from October until now, though we've had a mild winter thus far.

In response to one of the earlier posts, things have gone back towards "normal" since the main construction boom, but prices are still high. Rent for a single unit (cabin with water or appartment) runs $750-$1000. This price is a bit skewed because of the large number of single contractors and seasonals in Delta. Single family residences are probably a bit better deal, but still expensive. As far as food prices go, I haven't found them to be as ridiculous as people make them out to be, though they are high. For a family, you'll want to plan ahead and get non-perishables in bulk at Sam's Club in Fairbanks. Speaking of Fairbanks, people complain about the distance, but that's one of the more attractive aspects of the area to me; far enough to feel like we're in the wilderness, but close enough for a day trip when you've just got to see a movie, go to a concert, whatever. If you come to Delta expecting wild eyed, drunken, bearded prospectors and scoundrels, you'll probably find that... but you'll also be surprized how "normal" most people here are. Very Christian / conservative / liberatarian though. If you're an out-spoken "greenie" or vegetarian, you'll have a hard time, but will still find a few allies.

There's very little in-door recreation in town, just several restaurants and a couple bars. Access to the base will help some, but Greely is very small for an army base, though they do have a Rec Center. If you are not heavily into being outside as part of your lifestyle, you'll hate it here. Hunting, fishing, trapping, 4-wheeling, and snow-machining are all very popular with the locals, and I've found the area to be fantastic for hiking, snowshoeing, packrafting, mountaineering, and backcountry skiing, though you'll find very few "established" trailheads. If you can't embrace the cold, you'll hate it here. We're one of VERY few agricultural communities where the average annual temperature is below zero. First snow in late September, last snow in late April/early May, and full on winter mid-October - early April. Summers are generally warm (70s-80s) and sunny though.

To correct an earlier mistake, high speed internet (DSL) is available in-town, though many people live out of the town itself.

Here's some pictures of the town and immediate area:
Professional Alaska Stock Photography and Alaska pictures. Search results for "delta junction alaska photos". (http://www.alaskaphotographics.com/cgi-bin/script.pl?op=search&keywords=delta+junction+alaska +photos - broken link)

Anyway, I'll stop rambling, if you have any questions, please ask.

Edit: In response to the original question, as far as I can figure, a family would want an income of at least $50K to get by without serious hardship, and $75K for a reasonable level of comfort, but bear in mind that's coming from someone without a family.

[roadfamily6now]

THank you Heathen! I see that my assumptions of Delta are still correct. It probably has not changed much at all since we left.
Tell me, is Pizza Bella open? BIll and LIza still run it? If so, I wonder if the sandwiches are still as good as I recall. Yummy!

I used to work there and of course the Diner and the Cherokee lodge.......

Delta is very charming. We still have the Delta News Web as our homepage.

[gobrien]

Yes, Pizza Bella is great, and still open, I worked there a bit myself. I heard there is another place for pizza but it is nowhere nearly as good. Where was the Cherokee?

[heathen]

To be honest, the only place around here I ever grab a bite is at the surprizingly good Delta Pertro Wash (first gas station on the left as you come into town from the south). From what I hear though, the new Birch Brothers Pizza isn't bad. Oh and the Poorboy Cafe or whatever it's called (by the "salon") makes completely ridiculous hamburgers. Thumbs up from me! Good bakery at the IGA too.

[RayinAK]

Some recent news about some Delta Junction residents:
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Three Delta Junction men charged in caribou killings

[gobrien]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

Some recent news about some Delta Junction residents:
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Three Delta Junction men charged in caribou killings

I guess that goes on a lot, unfortunately. It's one thing to feed your family but waste is unexcusable! On a lighter, but also sad note, the Buffalo Diner closed their doors for good and will now be opening a restaurant in North Pole.

[roadfamily6now]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

I believe that you are correct. That will soon change, however, once they have their own borough. The reason why that will happen is because most of the property tax is to pay for school, fire, etc.

Meanwhile, I have no idea how they are paying for this:
City of Delta Junction ~ Home Page

Nah, I doubt that will happen anytime soon. The locals do NOT want a borough and there is not enough of a tax base in any of the proposed areas.