Legislators - Statewide Referendum Requirements
THE CITY OF
City Manager's Office
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4110 phone
(563) 589-4149 fax
ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org
~c/de-~
February 28, 2005
VIA Email and
1st Class Mail
<<Email>>
<<CompleteLOCALName _Address>>
Re: HSB 19 - Statewide referendum requirements
Dear<<Title>> <<Last>>,
I am writing to encourage you to oppose HSB 19 regarding a new requirement for a
statewide referendum. This bill proposes the requirement of a statewide referendum
before the state could increase certain taxes or fees by 1 % over the previous year's
general fund budget. As proposed, HSB 19 would erode the Home Rule authority of
cities and would result in increased costs to taxpayers to hold statewide referendums on
top of the cost for statewide elections. This bill would reduce the ability of elected
officials to make decisions of behalf of their constituents as they are elected to do.
I encourage you to oppose HSB 19 and support efforts to retain representative
democracy by protecting the ability of local and state elected officials to make decisions
as expected by those who elected them; and oppose any new restrictions such as
statutorily required referendums that result in the erosion of Home Rule authority.
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
Service
People
Integrity
Responsibility
Innovation
Teamwork
.
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