City of Wasilla : Questions & Answers

If I fail to remit sales tax can I lose my license?
When must I submit the sales tax to the City?
What if I turn ini my sales tax after the due date? Can the penalty be waived?
What if I don't receive a sales tax form or other notices in the mail?
What do I do if I've overcharged or collected too much sales tax?
What if I am overcharged sales tax?
What is the most sales tax charged on a sale?
How do I register my bicycle?
I heard the Wasilla Police Department has a Reserve Officer program. How can I participate in the Reserve program?
How can I apply for a job with the Wasilla Police Department?
The Wasilla Police Department completed an investigation of an incident in which I was involved. How can I get a copy of the report?
How do I report a crime?
How do I get on the City of Wasilla bidders list?
I obtained a copy of an Invitation to Bid or Request for Proposal from a source other than the City of Wasilla. Can I submit a bid or proposal?
When does the City of Wasilla have to solicit for bids or proposals?
How do I find out who won a bid?
How do I annex into the city?
How do I become a member of the Mat-Su Youth Court?
Why would I want to become a member of the Mat-Su Youth Court?
If I got into trouble, why should I choose Mat-Su Youth Court to handle my case?
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Q: If I fail to remit sales tax can I lose my license? A: Yes. The license may be revoked or suspended if the seller fails to remit delinquent sales tax, penalty and interest within thirty (30) days after notice. It is then unlawful for a seller to engage in business without a current city business license.
Q: When must I submit the sales tax to the City? A: Each month you will receive a notice form the City that has the due date printed on it. It must be IN our office by 5 p.m. on the last BUSINESS day we are open (not the last day) of the following month. Postmarks are not considered. The sales tax form and payment must be in our office on the due date before our office closes at 5 p.m. The drop boxes are checked at 5 p.m. the last business day. Therefore, anything placed in them after that time are considered delinquent and are subject to penalty and interest charges. For your convenience a schedule is available of when the sales tax is due for each month.
Q: What if I turn ini my sales tax after the due date? Can the penalty be waived? A: If all the delinquent tax, penalty and interest are paid within 45 business days after the date of delinquency the taxpayer may request in writing that the Finance Director waive the penalty ONE TIME in any period of 24 consecutive months. See WMC 5.16.120-150 for more details.
Q: What if I don't receive a sales tax form or other notices in the mail? A: We send out sales tax forms and notice to the last address you gave us. You are responsible for providing us with a current mailing address and turning in your sales tax form each month. We suggest that you keep a copy of the sales tax form on file in case you don't receive one in the mail. If necessary, a sales tax form is available in our office, online or we could fax one to you. Make sure you put your business name as it appears on your license and period ending date that you are remitting the sales tax for on the generic form.
Q: What do I do if I've overcharged or collected too much sales tax? A: If a seller has over collected tax, a refund should be issued to the buyer when possible. If it is not possible to refund the buyer the tax must be remitted to the City for the period it was collected for. The reason for the error should be rectified as soon as possible to prevent it from happening in the future.
Q: What if I am overcharged sales tax? A: If you have been overcharged sales tax, the buyer should immediately contact the seller and request a refund. If a refund is not given after requested, the buyer must contact the City to complete a protest within 30 days of the transaction receipt. A certificate of protest must be completed along with copies of the receipt that detail the name of the business, the date of the transaction and the amount of tax charged.
Q: What is the most sales tax charged on a sale? A: The City of Wasilla sales tax caps at $10.00. In other words you will never charge a customer more than $10.00 on any one transaction. In the case of an ongoing project that is billed monthly, the sales tax is billed once per month. Commercial rentals follow this same rule; assuming that the commercial rental is over $500 per month, the tenant would be charged the $10.00 maximum tax each month.
Q: How do I register my bicycle? A: Click here for a Bicycle Registration Form or pick one up at the Wasilla Police Department across from Target. You will be given a Bicycle License to attach to your bicycle and your information will be entered into a database under the Bicycle License number.
Q: I heard the Wasilla Police Department has a Reserve Officer program. How can I participate in the Reserve program? A: The Wasilla Police Department does have a Reserve Officer program. Participation is on a voluntary basis and offers training, experience and opportunities to serve the community in a worthwhile manner. Reserve officers act as volunteer police officers for the department. They may be called upon to assist in normal patrol functions, at special events and details, with investigations and in times of disaster or emergency. The selection process is basically the same as for a regular full time officer. The process may include a written test, oral board, individual interview, physical agility test, background investigation, polygraph exam and a psychological examination. Initial training normally consists of approximately 120 hours of introductory law enforcement training. The training is provided by the department. Following initial training, reserve officers are expected to dedicate at least 20 hours per month to the unit. Normally, there is no set schedule and reserve officers can complete their 20 hour commitment at their convenience. In addition, two training sessions are offered each month. Officers are expected to attend at least one of these sessions. Uniforms and other required equipment are provided by the department. Footwear is not provided. Reserve officers may purchase and provide approved personal equipment if they desire. Active hiring for the Reserve Program occurs usually once or twice a year and is advertised in the local newspaper. You may also inquire at the Wasilla Police Department as to whether active hiring is taking place at 907.352.5401.
Q: How can I apply for a job with the Wasilla Police Department? A: The Wasilla Police Department advertises any open positions through local newspapers, Job Service, at the City of Wasilla Home Page under Job Opportunities, or by contacting Human Resources at 907.373.9040. Hiring is accomplished through a competitive process. The City of Wasilla Human Resources Department distributes and collects employment packets only during open recruitment periods.
Q: The Wasilla Police Department completed an investigation of an incident in which I was involved. How can I get a copy of the report? A: Requests for reports may be obtained by filling out a Public Records Request. Click here for more information or to obtain a form. You may mail in the form with payment to Wasilla Police Department at 1800 E. Parks Hwy., Wasilla, AK 99654. Requests will be honored based on existing policies regarding release of information from police reports.
Q: How do I report a crime? A: You may call the City of Wasilla Police Department at 907.352.5401 for non-emergency reports. Any emergency will receive immediate attention by dialing 911. You may also stop by the Wasilla Police Department to report the incident. The Administrative Offices are open during business hours of Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After hours there is a dispatch phone you may pick up and report your incident directly to Wasilla Police Dispatch. The Wasilla Police Department is located at 1800 E. Parks Highway in Wasilla (across the Parks Highway from Target).
Q: How do I get on the City of Wasilla bidders list? A: Onvia Demandstar maintains the City of Wasilla’s vendor database (bidders list). Businesses may register their goods or services based on the National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP) code with Onvia DemandStar. When the city releases an ITB or RFP that matches the selected NIGP code, the vendor is automatically notified that there is a bid available for their goods or services. The business can then download the ITB or RFP documents off the Internet, or have it emailed or faxed to them from the City. The status of the ITB/RFP as well as the plan holder’s lists is kept current on the Demand Star website. Direct inquiries can be made via e-mail by contacting the Purchasing/Contracting Officer. The cost for this service is $30 per borough/state each year. Businesses interested in opportunities with the City of Wasilla should purchase access for the State of Alaska or the vendor may choose to monitor the city's web site on their own at no cost. All of the city's bids for commodities are posted on the web site.
Q: I obtained a copy of an Invitation to Bid or Request for Proposal from a source other than the City of Wasilla. Can I submit a bid or proposal? A: NO! A company or individual that submits a bid MUST be on the official City of Wasilla planholders list which is maintained at the City. Failure to be on the list will be cause for their bid to be deemed non-responsive. In addition, any copies of this bid, attachments or addendums obtained from any source other than www.cityofwasilla.com/purchasing or the City of Wasilla Purchasing Officer are not valid.
Q: When does the City of Wasilla have to solicit for bids or proposals? A: The city uses competitive means for the purchase of all goods and services as required by Wasilla Municipal Code 5.08. The city also utilizes contracts and price agreements established by the State of Alaska, the Western States Contracting Alliance and other cooperatives or agencies when it is deemed to be in the best interest of the City. The city believes in open, fair competition and strives to ensure that all vendors have equal opportunity to compete for city business. The City of Wasilla operates under a decentralized purchasing system. This means purchasing decision up to $5,000 is made independently by the departments in the city (with the exception of Management Information System purchases). When the estimated amount for goods or services is between $5,000 and $9,999, departments are required to obtain three quotes prior to purchase. The departments may utilize the services of the Purchasing/Contracting Officer (PCO) for this process or may do it themselves; however, when this processed is selected, the PCO must sign off on the final product prior to purchasing or contracting. For purchases beyond $10,000, the city requires all departments to contact the PCO who will utilize the city's bid process according to Wasilla Municipal Code 5.08. The bid process is initiated through either an Invitation to Bid (ITB), utilized when the city knows the specifications for the purchase; or a Request for Proposal (RFP), utilized when the exact specifications or process is unknown.
Q: How do I find out who won a bid? A: Click HERE to view all City of Wasilla solicitations (Invitation to Bid & Request for Proposals).
Q: How do I annex into the city? A: You may contact the City Planner to obtain an Annexation Petition. State law provides five methods of annexation available to annex contiguous territory into the City. Please discuss these methods with the City Planner.
Q: How do I become a member of the Mat-Su Youth Court? A: You can register for the next available criminal law training class by calling 352-5445. We have classes one or two times per year and a video class that you can take when no "live" class is available. If there is no class coming up soon you will be put on a waiting list for the next available class.
Q: Why would I want to become a member of the Mat-Su Youth Court? A: You will get the chance to become a part of the juvenile justice system by joining MSYC. You will learn about the juvenile justice system, and about criminal law. After 94 hours of participation you can receive a half credit social studies elective from the MSB School District. Members can go on field trips and get the chance to go to an annual statewide conference. It also gives you a warm-and-fuzzy feeling because you're giving something back to your community. The volunteer service you provide the Mat-Su community will also help you in your future plans - such as job hunting, college applications and scholarships.
Q: If I got into trouble, why should I choose Mat-Su Youth Court to handle my case? A: Mat-Su Youth Court is a diversion program and offers an informal way of handling your case, rather than going through the formal juvenile system. If you successfully complete your sentence, your case doesn't become a part of your permanent record, and when answering the question on job applications - you can state that you've never had a conviction. It also helps your record for military entry purposes. Defendants who complete their sentence through MSYC are invited to join the program as members. Your first-hand knowledge of the program will make you an invaluable member of Mat-Su Youth Court!
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