Loading...
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