Ian Crafton

Don’t forget to file! It’s that time of year!

You can now file for the 2026 Permanent Fund Dividend. Click here https://pfd.alaska.gov/ to apply.

I’ve been pushing to get this project done since I ran for council 3 years ago. Some projects just take a bit more effort. I’m really happy to see the word is getting out that this project is on the state books and in process of getting done.

State plans turn-blocking medians for Parks Highway in Wasilla The updates are designed to improve traffic flow and safety along the corridor.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!

President Trump gave a huge update on the Trump Accounts yesterday!

The Dell Family (Founders of Dell Tech, like the computers) came forward and decided to put $6.25B (yes with a “B”) towards the accounts next year.

How it works:

If you have a baby born after Jan 1st, 2025 and before Dec 31st, 2028. The baby will be automatically eligible for the Trump Account that will be seeded with $1,000 from the Federal Government! This will be invested in a fund that tracks the S&P 500. Family, friends, employers and the child can put money into the account.

If you max the account out at $5,000 per year for 18 years and you get at least a 7% return (which is normal for the S&P 500), the account will grow to $177,000 when the child is 18! That is HUGE! There are so many things a child could do to get a head start in life with that money!

But Ian, what about kids not born between then and the money Dell put forward?

This is what is amazing! The money Dell put forward will go towards children NOT born in that timeframe. If you have a child under 11 (so 10 and under), you can claim a Trump Account that has been seeded with $250! There are talks of other families that might put money towards that $250 to increase it in the future!

A couple key points to know!

Only the first 25 million people will get the $250 Trump Account. Basically it’s a set number of accounts. All babies in the window of time are eligible for the $1,000 account!

Starting July 4th, 2026 is when you can claim the accounts for your children! Set a reminder! I know I did!

Link to the website below!

Also if you found this interesting, please take a moment to share this amazing news! Let’s bless this next generation of kids! We all know they need all the blessings they can get!

Jumpstart the American Dream Each Trump Account provides eligible children with a $1,000 gift courtesy of Donald J. Trump. Learn more on December 17th.

I met with the WPD Chief today to follow up on several concerns residents have shared with me. We talked through some of the challenges officers face with current code restrictions, the frustration of the “catch and release” cycle when making arrests, and the recent increase in applicants since the WPDEA contract was finalized.

A major part of our conversation focused on traffic issues. Many of you have reached out about speeding in certain areas, and we discussed installing radar speed signs at key locations to help remind drivers to slow down. These signs are a practical tool that can make an immediate difference without requiring constant enforcement.

I’ll keep working with WPD and city staff as we explore the best ways to improve safety and support the department.

The goal is to keep our roads safe. We don’t want to be the city gaining revenue from traffic tickets. What we want are people following the laws of the road to keep you safe.

Big Changes Ahead for SALT Deductions!

The landscape of state and local tax (SALT) deductions is undergoing a significant transformation, thanks to the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Effective from the 2025 tax year, the SALT deduction cap has been increased from $10,000 to $40,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples filing separately. This change is set to remain in effect through 2029, with a 1% annual increase each year. 

This expansion is particularly beneficial for residents in high-tax areas, allowing for greater federal tax relief on state and local taxes paid. However, it’s important to note that for individuals with a Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) exceeding $500,000, the SALT deduction cap will gradually phase down to $10,000 by 2030. 

Looking ahead, there is also a proposal in the House to further increase the SALT deduction cap to $15,000 for individuals and $30,000 for married couples filing jointly. While this bill is still under consideration, it signals ongoing efforts to provide additional tax relief to taxpayers. 

These developments mark a significant shift in tax policy, offering potential savings for many taxpayers. If you’re interested in how these changes might impact your tax planning, consider consulting with a tax professional to explore your options.

Part 3 of 3

Understanding SALT Deductions and How They Work

A lot of people hear about the SALT deduction and wonder how it affects them. SALT stands for State and Local Taxes — things like property taxes, state income taxes (not in Alaska), and local sales taxes.

Here’s the key idea: the federal government allows you to deduct some of these local taxes from your federal taxable income if you itemize deductions. This means the money you spend on local taxes can reduce the amount of income the federal government taxes, helping prevent “double taxation.”
• Maximum deduction: $10,000 per year.
• Itemized vs. Standard Deduction: Most Americans don’t itemize because the standard deduction is larger and easier to claim. For 2025, the standard deduction is $15,750 for single filers and $31,500 for married couples filing jointly. This means for many people, the SALT deduction isn’t used directly, but the principle still applies — federal tax is structured to avoid taxing the same dollars twice.
• Why it matters: Even if you don’t itemize, understanding SALT helps explain why paying local taxes doesn’t literally mean paying the same money multiple times to the federal government.

SALT deductions are part of a system designed to balance local and federal responsibilities, making sure the money we spend locally supports our communities without being unfairly taxed at the national level.

Part 2 of 3

Let’s Talk About “Being Taxed Multiple Times”

At a recent City Council meeting, a resident raised an important point: “I’m paying federal income tax, borough property tax, and city sales tax. Why does it feel like I’m being taxed over and over?”

It’s a fair question. The truth is, each of these taxes serves a different purpose and supports different services:
• Federal income tax supports national programs like defense, Social Security, and infrastructure.
• Property tax (Mat-Su Borough) helps fund schools, fire and emergency services, and borough operations.
• Sales tax (City of Wasilla) supports city roads, police, and community services.

They don’t overlap — they each operate in their own lane.

There’s also a federal SALT deduction that helps ensure money you use to pay local taxes isn’t taxed again at the federal level. If you itemize your deductions, you can write off up to $10,000 in state and local taxes from your federal taxable income. Even if most people take the standard deduction, the system is built to prevent true “double taxation.”

Understanding where each tax goes helps all of us see the bigger picture — how local and federal systems fit together to keep our communities running.

Part 1 of 2 (Maybe more) - Tomorrow I will break down SALT Deductions

Local Government Should Empower, Not Compete

Too often, local government forgets what its true purpose is — to serve the community, not to expand itself.

At its best, government provides the framework that allows individuals, families, and private organizations to thrive. It maintains roads, ensures public safety, and supports essential services. But when government starts to see itself as the solution to every community need, it loses sight of its role — and risks crowding out those who are trying to help.

Recently, a proposal was made to simply help a local nonprofit identify available city property — a step that could allow a private organization to meet long-standing community needs. It didn’t cost taxpayers a dime. It didn’t obligate the city to spend money. It simply asked local government to help connect the dots so that the private sector could do what it does best: innovate, serve, fill gaps where government often falls short, and do what the government shouldn’t be doing.

Yet, the idea was dismissed. The reasoning? That the city should “take care of its own backyard first,” and that we shouldn’t “compete” with our own recreation programs. (There would've been no competition.)

But that misses the point entirely. The YMCA — and any other private or nonprofit group that steps up — isn’t competing with government. It’s complementing it.

Government exists to make room for these partnerships — to remove barriers, not build them. When a private organization wants to invest time, resources, and passion into improving our community, that’s not a threat. That’s an opportunity.

If local government (or any government) grows too large, it begins to see the community as a competitor rather than a partner. A healthy city hall understands that strength comes not from control, but from collaboration.

We don’t need government to do everything. We need government to make it possible for others to do what needs to be done.

The best local governments stay small, focused, and responsive — ensuring safety, maintaining infrastructure, and clearing the path for people, nonprofits, and businesses to flourish. That’s how communities grow stronger — not through bureaucracy, but through partnership.

At the end of the day, government doesn’t build communities. People do. And local government should be there to help them, not stand in their way.

-Councilman Ian Crafton

This was a hot topic on the council recently. I would encourage the community to listen to the meeting.

YMCA eyes large new Wasilla recreation center as city council hits pause on support YMCA officials want the new 80,000-square-foot to house an Olympic-sized pool.

Hello neighbors!

The City of Wasilla has been hard at work rewriting what we call Title 16. This is out Land Use Development Code. It is everything that one can do or not do with their property inside the City.

I believe we have done a good job at cutting "red tape." We have done our best at cutting a code from ~300 pages to ~150 pages.

We will be taking public comment Monday April 28th at 6pm at Wasilla City Hall 290 E Herning Ave Wasilla, AK 99654.

If you cannot make it, you can provide written comment to our Clerks at [email protected]

I would hope to see you there, please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] if you have questions.

Link to the Meeting with the Agenda attached!

cityofwasilla.civicweb.net