Vote no for Local-Option Sales Tax

The Iowa City Council is pushing the local-option sales tax (LOST). The reason given is that the rules for how property is assessed for the purpose of taxation have changed and the city is going to lose money.

With the expected loss of funds the council doesn't make the case that the reduction in revenue will cause the city to cut specific programs. The council simply predicts dire consequences and wants more money.

Where is the money going?

' 50 percent street improvements. What streets are in dire need of repair that aren't in the current or future budgets?

' 40 percent to property tax relief. Will all property owners taxes be cut? How will the percentages be decided? What is the expected reduction in taxes to the average property owner?

' 10 percent affordable housing. How are we going to use this money? Is the city going to buy more houses? How do we know when we have achieved success. Shouldn't the goal be to have an 'affordable city?”

Finally, those who support the sales tax say that almost every other city in Iowa has this tax. On Nov. 4 vote no.

Tim Borchardt

Iowa City