Legislative Letters from MVM
City Mmlager's Office
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4<164
(563) 589-4110 phone
(563) 589-4149 fax
ctymgr@cityofdubuque,org
D~
~~~
March 25, 2004
VIA Email and
1st Class Mail
Re:
SSg 3169 - Appropriations Bill
Dear Senator
I am writing to you regarding SSg 3169, the Appropriations bill, As you know, the
impact of last year's state cuts in funding to local governments was devastating to the
City of Dubuque as it resulted in a reduction of $1 ,070,425 in revenue or 3.16 percent of
the general fund operating expense. These revenue cuts were realized from elimination
of the personal property tax replacement, municipal assistance, liquor sales tax credit,
monies and credit replacement, and reduction in property tax due to the rollback.
Should the legislature choose to reduce our state funding in FY '05, the impact would be
significant. Future cuts would likely mean increased fees for existing services and/or
reduction of services and expenses through the elimination of city staff. I urge you to
support any amendments to SSB 3169 that remove a reference in Section 227 that
would force cities to absorb the $20 million shortfall in state reimbursement of the
property tax credits. I would further encourage you to support Amendment #216 which
reinstates Iowa Code Section 25B.7.
Lastly, there are provisions in Sections 202-209 that remove the "annual appropriation"
language for property tax credit reimbursements after FY 2005. As you know one of the
main concems of cities is unfunded mandates. If the legislature does not intend to fund
the property tax credit mandate, then cities should no longer be mandated to offer
credits to property owners.
Thank you for your continued efforts to hold the line on additional funding cuts to cities.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
MCVM:cs
cc: Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council
Susan Judkins, Director of Governmental Affairs, Iowa League of Cities
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Dawn Lang, Budget Director
The Honorable Mike Connolly
lòwa State Senator
3458 Daniels
Dubuque, IA 52001
The Honorable Julie Hosch
Iowa State Senator
22852 Butterfield Road
Cascade, IA 52033
The Honorable Roger Stewart
Iowa State Senator
3936317 Avenue
Preston, IA 52069
Cty Manag~r's Office
50 West 130, Street
Dubu<j11e, Iowa 52001-4<164
(563) 589-4110 phone
(563) 589-4149 fax
ctymgr@dtyofdubuque.org
5~
~~~
March 24, 2004
VIA Email and
1st Class Mail
Re:
Property Tax Limitation Bill
Dear Senator
I am writing to encourage you to vote no for SSB 3168, the property tax limitation bill.
As you know, the impact of last year's cut in funding to local governments was
devastating to the City of Dubuque as it resulted in a reduction of $1,195,425 in revenue
or 3.54 percent of the general fund operating expense. Should the legislature choose to
reduce our state funding in FY '05, the impact would be significant. Future cuts would
likely mean increased fees for existing services and reduction of services and expenses
through the elimination of city staff.
You will recall that in 2003 the legislature established the Property Tax Implementation
Committee to look at a comprehensive and equitable approach to reform of the property
tax system. This process allows any property tax changes to be reviewed for impact on
local governments and taxpayers.
I urge you to oppose SSB 3168 as it circumvents this process.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
MCVM:cs
f
cc:
Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council
Susan Judkins, Director of Governmental Affairs, Iowa League of Cities
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Dawn Lang, Budget Director
The Honorable Mike Connolly
lòwa State Senator
3458 Daniels
Dubuque, IA 52001
The Honorable Julie Hosch
Iowa State Senator
22852 Butterfield Road
Cascade, IA 52033
The Honorable Roger Stewart
Iowa State Senator
3936317 Avenue
Preston, IA 52069
Cty Manageoc'sOffite
50 West 13th Street
Dubuqne, Iowa .52001-4864
(563) 589-411!! pJ:u:one
(563}589-4149 fax
ctymgr@dtyofdnbuque.org
~~~
March 29, 2004
VIA Email and
1 st Class Mail
Re:
SF2297 and HSB718 - Property Tax Limitation Bills
SF2298 - Appropriations Bill Regarding Property Tax Credits
HSB727 - Department of Revenue Technical Corrections Bill
Dear
I am writing to you regarding the above limitation and appropriation bills with potentially
ominous consequences for cities.
Please oppose property tax limitation bills, SF 2297 and HSB 718. Instead of
accomplishing property tax reform, these bills merely limit the ability of cities and
counties to provide services by restricting collection of property taxes. The State has
generated no data conceming the effects of this limitation. Analysis of a similar bill
three years ago showed revenues would be severely restricted in growing cities.
These bills avoid all of the underlying issues with property taxation in Iowa. Schools,
which receive almost half of property taxes statewide, are ignored in these bills. In
addition, they do not address equity issues, including the rollback formula. Failing to
address the rollback means tax levies could rise significantly in other communities,
confusing the taxpayer. I encourage you to abandon SF2297 and HSB718, and support
no property tax bill unless it:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Provides adequate funding for local government services.
Addresses equity issues, including the rollback formula.
Requires the Property Tax Implementation Committee to consider what
property taxes should pay for and who should pay them.
Retums to the schedule adopted in 2003 legislation, requiring the legislature
to consider a comprehensive proposal in 2005 that would not be implemented
before July1, 2006. This will give the state, local governments and citizens'
time to plan for and understand any new system.
I also encourage you to oppose SF2298 and HSB727. Appropriations bill, SF2298,
funds property tax credits at a reduced level for one more year from state cash
reserves, but completely eliminates an annual appropriation for these programs
effective in the 2006 fiscal year. The annual appropriations are eliminated without
explaining whether the programs will be eliminated, or the payments simply stopped,
HSB727, known as the Department of Revenue technical corrections bill, repeals Iowa
Code Section 25B.7 within section 34. This has the effect of forcing cities, counties,
schools, and community colleges to absorb the $20 million reduction to the property tax
credit reimbursements included in SF2298.
As you know, the impact of last year's state cuts in funding to local governments was
devastating to the City of Dubuque, It resulted in a reduction of $1 ,070,425 in revenue
or 3.16 percent of the general fund operating expense. These revenue cuts were
realized from elimination of the personal property tax replacement, municipal
assistance, liquor sales tax credit, and monies and credit replacement. On top of
everything, the City realized a loss from the rollback.
Should the legislature choose to reduce the state property tax credit funding in FY'05,
the impact on the City of Dubuque is estimated at $664,673. This significant hit to
budgeted revenue would translate into increased fees for existing services and/or
reduction of services and expenses through the elimination of City staff, all of which
happened during the current fiscal year budget.
Opposing SF2298 and HSB727 will prevent the additional shifting of a state budget
problem to the local level, potentially causing a $180 million property tax increase in the
2006 fiscal year, We need better long-term planning by providing clear direction to
citizens and local governments.
To close, implementing the limitations defined in SF2297 and HSB718 regarding
property tax reform, and eliminating annual appropriations and shifting the mandated
property tax credit reimbursements to the local level as stated in SF2298 and HSB727,
all in the same year, would create budget chaos for cities and counties.
Thank you for your continued efforts to hold the line on additional service reductions or
fee increases at the local level.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
MCVM:dll
cc: Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council
Susan Judkins, Director of Govemmental Affairs, Iowa League of Cities
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Councel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Dawn Lang, Budget Director
The Honorable Mike Connolly
Iowa State Senator
3458 Daniels
Dubuque, IA 52001
The Honorable Julie Hosch
Iowa State Senator
22852 Butterfield Road
Cascade, IA 52033
The Honorable Roger Stewart
Iowa State Senator
3936317 Avenue
Preston, IA 52069
The Honorable Pam Jochum
Iowa State Representative
2368 Jackson
Dubuque, IA 52001
The Honorable Pat Murphy
Iowa State Representative
155 N. Grandview Avenue
Dubuque, IA 52001
The Honorable Robert Osterhaus
Iowa State Representative
216 Austin
Maquoketa, IA 52060
The Honorable Steven Lukan
Iowa State Representative
7365 Columbus Street
New Vienna IA 52065
The Honorable Gene Manternach
Iowa State Representative
9608 Maple Road
Cascade, IA 52033
City Manager's Office
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4<164
(563) 589-4110 phone
(563) 589-4149 fax
ctymgr@dtyofdubuque.org
5~
~~~
March 25, 2004
VIA Email and
1st Class Mail
Re:
SSB 3169 - Appropriations Bill
Dear Senator
I am writing to you regarding SSB 3169, the Appropriations bill. As you know, the
impact of last year's state cuts in funding to local governments was devastating to the
City of Dubuque as it resulted in a reduction of $1,070,425 in revenue or 3.16 percent of
the general fund operating expense. These revenue cuts were realized from elimination
of the personal property tax replacement, municipal assistance, liquor sales tax credit,
monies and credit replacement, and reduction in property tax due to the rollback.
Should the legislature choose to reduce our state funding in FY '05, the impact would be
significant. Future cuts would likely mean increased fees for existing services and/or
reduction of services and expenses through the elimination of city staff. I urge you to
support any amendments to SSB 3169 that remove a reference in Section 227 that
would force cities to absorb the $20 million shortfall in state reimbursement of the
property tax credits. I would further encourage you to support Amendment #216 which
reinstates Iowa Code Section 25B.7.
Lastly, there are provisions in Sections 202-209 that remove the "annual appropriation"
language for property tax credit reimbursements after FY 2005. As you know one of the
main concerns of cities is unfunded mandates, If the legislature does not intend to fund
the property tax credit mandate, then cities should no longer be mandated to offer
credits to property owners.
Thank you for your continued efforts to hold the line on additional funding cuts to cities.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
MCVM:cs
cc: Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council
Susan Judkins, Director of Governmental Affairs, Iowa League of Cities
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Dawn Lang, Budget Director
The Honorable Mike Connolly
lòwa State Senator
3458 Daniels
Dubuque, IA 52001
The Honorable Julie Hosch
Iowa State Senator
22852 Butterfield Road
Cascade, IA 52033
The Honorable Roger Stewart
Iowa State Senator
3936317 Avenue
Preston, IA 52069
City Manager's Office
50 West 13th Street
Dnbuque, Iowa 52001-4<164
(563) 589-4110 phone
(563) 589-4149 fax
ctymgr@dtyofdubuque.org
5~
~~~
March 24, 2004
VIA Email and
1 st Class Mail
Re:
Property Tax Limitation Bill
Dear Senator
I am writing to encourage you to vote no for SSB 3168, the property tax limitation bill.
As you know, the impact of last year's cut in funding to local governments was
devastating to the City of Dubuque as it resulted in a reduction of $1,195,425 in revenue
or 3.54 percent of the general fund operating expense. Should the legislature choose to
reduce our state funding in FY '05, the impact would be significant. Future cuts would
likely mean increased fees fOr existing services and reduction of services and expenses
through the elimination of city staff.
You will recall that in 2003 the legislature established the Property Tax Implementation
Committee to look at a comprehensive and equitable approach to reform of the property
tax system. This process allows any property tax changes to be reviewed for impact on
local governments and taxpayers.
I urge you to oppose SSB 3168 as it circumvents this process,
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
MCVM:cs
cc:
Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council
Susan Judkins, Director of Governmental Affairs, Iowa League of Cities
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Dawn Lang, Budget Director
The Honorable Mike Connolly
Iowa State Senator
3458 Daniels
Dubuque, IA 52001
The Honorable Julie Hosch
Iowa State Senator
22852 Butterfield Road
Cascade, IA 52033
The Honorable Roger Stewart
Iowa State Senator
3936317 Avenue
Preston, IA 52069
Office of the Mayor
and Gty Council
Gty Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, fowa 52001-4<164
D~
~~~
March 30, 2004
The Honorable Jim Nussle
Congressman, 1st District of Iowa
Room 303 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C, 20515.1502
Ref: $45 Million for Dubuque Transportation Priorities
Dear Representative Nussle:
I would like to express our sincere appreciation for your work responding to the City of
Dubuque's transportation needs. Thank you for identifying thelA 32 (Southwest
Arterial) and the US 20 Julien Dubuque Bridge as projects to be included in the new
transportation authorization bill, the Transportation Equitv Act: a Leqacv for Users.
These two projects have the support of the entire community, and have been identified.
as number one priorities by the City, the. County Board of Supervisors, DMATS, the
Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Dubuque Development
Corporation.
Without your continued support, these two projects, critical to Dubuque's future, would
never be constructed. We look forward to working with you and our entire delegation in
the final approval of the new transportation bill, and future appropriations for these
projects,
Sincerely yours,
Terry Duggan
Mayor
TMD:wcb
cc: Dubuque City Council
Rick Dickinson, Executive Director, Greater .Dubuque Development Corporation
Steward Sandstrom, President and CEO, Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce
Dubuque County Board of Supervisors
Michael C. Van Milligen, Dubuque City Manager
Service
People
Integrity
Responsibility
Innovation
Teamwork