Legislative Letters
City Manager's Oftice
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52(XYJ-4l:l64
(563) 589-4110 phone
(563) 589-4149 (,1X
ctymgr@dtyofdubuque.org
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February 28, 2005
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VIA Email and
1 st Class Mail
<<Email>>
<<CompleteLOCALName _Address>>
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Re: HF 403
Dear <<Title>> <<Las!>>,
I am writing to encourage you to vote no HF 403 regarding the exemption of
instructional support property tax levy of a school district from being collected as part of
incremental taxes paid for an urban renewal area. This bill proposes to divert tax
dollars generated from economic development capital projects to fund operational costs
of a school district.
Since Dubuque began to use TIF as one piece of a financial package for business
retention, expansion and recruitment, economic development in our community has
grown. Over the twenty years that the City has approved private TIF projects, the 21
private projects directly assisted with TIF invested over $105,400,000 in our community.
This does not include all the homes built to house the employees of these companies
and the tax revenue generated from property tax and sales tax that flows back into the
school district. The TIF assistance accounted for 15%, or $15,765,000 of the total
investment, a 7:1 private to public dollar match. Furthermore, 1 ,872 jobs have been
retained in our community and an estimated 695 new jobs created. In addition, total
community assessed valuation has increased over 70% in the last twelve years, to
$1.659 billion, much of this valuation is the direct results of projects that were assisted
with TIF. I can assure you that without financial tools, such as TIF, these jobs and value
to our community would never have been realized.
TIF has also been an important financial tool to revitalize our downtown and eliminated
conditions of slum and blight in neighborhoods where school buildings are located.
<<Title>> <<Las!>>
February 28, 2005
Page 2
I encourage you to oppose an amendment to HF 403 regarding the exemption of
instructional support property tax levy of a school district from being collected.
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
The Honorable Mike Connolly
Iowa State Senator
2600 Renaissance Dr #3
Dubuque, IA 52001
The Honorable Tom Hancock
Iowa State Senator
310 E Main Street
Epworth, lA, 52045
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 Thomas Schueller
Iowa State Representative
503 W. Platt Street
Maquoketa, IA 52060
The Honorable Steven Lukan
Iowa State Representative
7365 Columbus Street
New Vienna IA 52065
The Honorable Ray Zirkelbach
Iowa State Representative
637 W. First Street
Monticello, IA 52310
City Manager's Office
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4110 phone
(563) 589-4149 fax
ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org
THE CITY OF I
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February 25, 2005
VIA E-mail and
151 Class Mail
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The Honorable Pam Jochum
Iowa State Representative
2368 Jackson
Dubuque,IA 52001
Re: HSB 59 - Open Meetings Law
Dear Representative Jochum,
I am writing to encourage you to vote no on HSB 59 regarding a change in definition of
the Open Meetings law. This bill proposes to expand the definition of a meeting to
include a series of meetings of less than a majority of members of the governmental
body. This bill could result in a significant decrease in participation in community
activities by City Council Members for fear of being in violation of the Open Meetings
law. Currently Dubuque City Council Members serve on the boards of over 20
organizations. In addition, City Council Members are asked to appear at numerous
events, including neighborhood meetings, ribbon cuttings, focus groups, etc. This bill
would place an undue burden on organizations to meet the advance public notice
requirements in anticipation of attendance by more than one or more City Council
Members.
I encourage you to oppose HSB 59 regarding the definition of Open Meetings law.
Sincerely,
jil0 LCvr/JJI~
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
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