Legislative Ltrs Reinven... (2)City Manager's Office
City Hall
05 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 5200124864
(563) 5894110 office
(563) 5894149 fax
ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org
April 25, 2003
VIA E-mail and
1st Class Mail
gene.mantemach@legis.state.ia.us
The Honorable Gene Manternach
Iowa State Representative
9608 Maple Road
Cascade, IA 52033
Dear Representative Manternach,
I just wanted to take a moment to share with you the impact of the latest
proposals included within HF 691 - Reinvention Bill. Based upon our information
this proposal would have a tremendous impact on Dubuque and our ability to
provide services to our citizens. The changes being considered will reduce our
revenue by $1,195,425 or 3.54% of our general fund operating expense. A large
portion of our general fund expense goes towards employee expense and is
broken down into the following categories:
60% of employee general fund expense is Protective Services - Police and Fire
20% of employee general fund expense is Park, Library, Health and Human
Rights
12% of employee general fund expense is Zoning Enforcement, City Clerk,
Finance, Information Services and Personnel
9% of employee general fund expense is Airport and Transit
I know that this information, along with our previous correspondence, conveyed
to you the seriousness such cuts will have on our community and the services we
provide. I am aware that there has been discussion that the reduction or
elimination of mandate will aid cities in dealing with budget shortages as will the
$10 million contingency fund in the "Reinvention" bill, let me assure you that the
proposed changes to these mandates and the revolving fund will in no way make
up for the loss of revenue. While I understand SF 453 has passed the Senate, I
would hope that you reconsider your position on this issue and vote no when it
comes up in the house.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
Cc:Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council
Susan Judkins, Director of Governmental Affairs, Iowa League of Cities
Steward Sandstom, President & CEO, Dubuque Area Chamber of
Commerce
Rick Dickinson, Executive Director, Greater Dubuque Development
Corporation
Dave Baker, President, Teamster's Union Local #421
Steven Didato, President, Amlgamated Transit Union, Local #329
Dan Sommers, President, International Union of Operating Engineers,
Local #758
Tom Ready, President, Dubuque Professional Firefighters Association,
Local #353
Thomas Pregler, President, Dubuque Police Protective Association
City of Dubuque Department Managers
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
50 West 13th Slxeet
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4110 office
(563) 5894149 fax
ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org
April 25, 2003
VIA Email and
1st Class Mail
steven.lukan@legis.state.ia.us
The Honorable Steven Lukan
Iowa State Representative
7365 Columbus Street
New Vienna IA 52065
Dear Representative Lukan,
I just wanted to take a moment to share with you the impact of the latest
proposals included within HF 691 - Reinvention Bill. Based upon our information
this proposal would have a tremendous impact on Dubuque and our ability to
provide services to our citizens. The changes being considered will reduce our
revenue by $1,195,425 or 3.54% of our general fund operating expense. A large
portion of our general fund expense goes towards employee expense and is
broken down into the following categories:
60% of employee general fund expense is Protective Services - Police and Fire
20% of employee general fund expense is Park, Library, Health and Human
Rights
12% of employee general fund expense is Zoning Enforcement, City Clerk,
Finance, Information Services and Personnel
9% of employee general fund expense is Airport and Transit
I know that this information, along with our previous correspondence, conveyed
to you the seriousness such cuts will have on our community and the services we
provide. I am aware that there has been discussion that the reduction or
elimination of mandate will aid cities in dealing with budget shortages as will the
$10 million contingency fund in the "Reinvention" bill, let me assure you that the
proposed changes to these mandates and the revolving fund will in no way make
up for the loss of revenue. While I understand SF 453 has passed the Senate, I
would hope that you reconsider your position on this issue and vote no when it
comes up in the house.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
Cc:Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council
Susan Judkins, Director of Governmental Affairs, Iowa League of Cities
Steward Sandstom, President & CEO, Dubuque Area Chamber of
Commerce
Rick Dickinson, Executive Director, Greater Dubuque Development
Corporation
Dave Baker, President, Teamster's Union Local #421
Steven Didato, President, Amlgamated Transit Union, Local #329
Dan Sommers, President, International Union of Operating Engineers,
Local #758
Tom Ready, President, Dubuque Professional Fireflghters Association,
Local #353
Thomas Pregler, President, Dubuque Police Protective Association
City of Dubuque Department Managers
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
50 West 13ffi Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4110 office
(563) 589-4149 fax
ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org
April 25, 2003
VIA E-mail and
1st Class Mail
Robert_osterhaus@legis.state.ia.us
The Honorable Robert Osterhaus
Iowa State Representative
216 Austin
Maquoketa, IA 52060
Dear Representative Osterhaus,
I just wanted to take a moment to share with you the impact of the latest proposals
included within HF 691. Based upon our information this "Reinvention" bill would have a
tremendous impact on Dubuque and our ability to provide services to our citizens. The
changes being considered will reduce our revenue by $1,195,425 or 3.54% of our
general fund operating expense. A large portion of our general fund expense goes
towards employee expense and is broken down into the following categories:
60% of employee general fund expense is Protective Services - Police and Fire
20% of employee general fund expense is Park, Library, Health and Human Rights
12% of employee general fund expense is Zoning Enforcement, City Clerk, Finance.
Information Services and Personnel
9% of employee general fund expense is Airport and Transit
I know that this information, along with our previous correspondence, conveyed to you
the seriousness such cuts will have on our community and the services we provide. I
am aware that there has been discussion that the reduction or elimination of mandate
will aid cities in dealing with budget shortages as will the $10 million contingency fund in
the "Reinvention" bill, let me assure you that the proposed changes to these mandates
and the revolving fund will in no way make up for the loss of revenue.
While I understand SF 453 has passed the Senate, please join others in fighting any
further progress on this "Reinvention" Bill. I hope that you will continue to raise these
concerns in the House and to Governor Vilsack and request that he veto the
"Reinvention" bill, should it pass in the House.
Representative Bob Osterhaus
April 25, 2003
Page 2
Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
MCVM:jh
Enclosure
cc: Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council
Susan Judkins, Director of Governmental Affairs, Iowa League of Cities
Steward Sandstrom, President & CEO, Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce
Rick Dickinson, Executive Director, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation
Dave Baker, President, Teamster's Union Local ff421
Steven Didato, President, Amalgamated Transit Union, Local #329
Dan Sommers, President, International Union of Operating Engineers, Local #758
Tom Ready, President, Dubuque Professional Firefighters Association, Local #353
Thomas Pregler, President, Dubuque Police Protective Association
City of Dubuque Department Managers
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
City Manager's Office
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dabuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 5894110 office
(563) 5894149 fax
ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org
April 28, 2003
VIA E-mail and
1st Class Mail
mike_connolly@legis.state.ia.us
The Honorable Mike Connolly
Iowa State Senator
3458 Daniels
Dubuque, IA 52001
Re: Reinvention bill amendments
Dear Senator Connolly:
I am writing to ask for your support for two amendments that will be proposed to the
Standing Appropriations bill and subject to debate this week relating to the Reinvention
Bill. The first amendment would eliminate the $10 million "Innovation Fund" included
within the Reinvention Bill. The fund, as proposed, would be a revolving loan fund
available to cities to assist them in easing the impact of the cuts imposed by the
Reinvention Bill. I would ask for your support to eliminate this fund and reduce cuts to
cities and counties under the consolidated payments portion of the Reinvention Bill.
This will help reduce the impact on the number of employees that would have to be
eliminated as a result of the Reinvention Bill.
The second amendment would allow cities and counties to reopen their budgets and
implement a special levy to recover up to the amount of the State cuts that we would
experience. For many communities, like Dubuque, the cuts are so significant that they
need this alternative. I do not know if that is the option Dubuque would choose, but at
least it should be available.
Lastly, I would ask that you consider other options that can help to reduce the impact of
this bill on our community. These options include:
1. Enact legislation to eliminate the requirement that 1% of the State budget be
placed in the State's cash reserve fund. While refunding the cash reserve fund
Service People Integrity Responm~ility Innovation Teamwork
Senator Mike Connolly
April 28, 2003
Page 2
is good financial management, we would recommend that this occur in a surplus
year not a deficit year and not on the backs of local government;
2. Enact legislation to allow cities to use the E911 service surcharge as operating
revenue; and
3. Enact legislation setting a floor to rollback at existing levels. While this won't
increase taxes for fiscal year '05, it will prevent additional erosion to the tax base
that will occur that year from the drop in ag productivity. Without this floor, the
rollback is expected to fall to 47% and create another significant reduction to
cities.
Please join others in voting yes for legislation supporting the two amendments
mentioned above as well as other the options mentioned and help reduce the impact
that the Reinvention Bill will have on Dubuque.
Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
MCVM:cs
cc: Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council
Tom Bredeweg, Executive Director, Iowa League of Cities
Susan Judkins, Director of Governmental Affairs, Iowa League of Cities
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Bill Baum, Economic Development Director
Pauline Joyce, Administrative Services Manager
The Honorable Mike Connolly
Iowa State Senator
3458 Daniels
Dubuque, IA 52001
The Honorable Roger Stewart
Iowa State Senator
3936 317 Avenue
Preston, IA 52069
The Honorable Pat Murphy
Iowa State Representative
155 N. Grandview Avenue
Dubuque, IA 52001
The Honorable Steven Lukan
Iowa State Representative
7365 Columbus Street
New Vienna IA 52065
The Honorable Julie Hosch
Iowa State Senator
22852 Butterfield Road
Cascade, IA 52033
The Honorable Pam Jochum
Iowa State Representative
2368 Jackson
Dubuque, IA 52001
The Honorable Robert Osterhaus
Iowa State Representative
216 Austin
Maquoketa, IA 52060
The Honorable Gene Manternach
Iowa State Representative
9608 Maple Road
Cascade, IA 52033