Cut spending or bring in higher-paying jobs

How can we in Iowa City keep handing out raises to the public sector year after year and meet our infrastructure needs? But at the same time, we keep taking residential properties off our tax rolls by selling property to the University of Iowa, to private investors of affordable housing our city council endorses along with city-owned homes.

The private sector and businesses in this town are strained for a community of 65,000 people. Now the school district is trying to redraw the boundaries so all of the schools have less than half of their students coming from low-income families. What does that tell you about our tax base?

In Iowa City, 65 percent of the budget comes from residential property taxes. The MFI (median family income) in Iowa City is $76,000. It's nearly impossible to build a home for under $200,000. People can barely afford a home, let alone pay the taxes on it due to our local government's free spending.

Iowa City has $14.5 million in assessed low rental property on its books. From these properties only $313,000 is collected in tax revenue. Guess who makes up the difference. For years we've been told bringing in new business was a priority. It seems that Coralville as done a better job than Iowa City in that area!

Bottom line, cut your spending or bring in higher-paying jobs.

Russell Haught

Iowa City