Commercial property tax cut discussion set for Thursday

Two state senators playing a key role in Iowa's commercial property tax debate will meet with local business people and community leaders on Thursday, December 15, at 9 AM at the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Board Room, 424 First Avenue NE in Cedar Rapids.

Senator Liz Mathis and Senator Rob Hogg arranged the meeting so local residents could meet with key legislators working on the small business property tax cut.   Senator Joe Bolkcom, the chair of the tax-writing Senate Ways and Means Committee and Senator Herman Quirmbach, a member of the committee and an ISU economic professor, will stop in Cedar Falls and Marshalltown that same day.  Hogg and Mathis are also both members of the Ways and Means Committee.

“Last year, Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats voted 46 to 4 to cut every Iowa business' commercial property taxes.  That legislation would have also lowered small business property taxes more than any other plan,” said Mathis.  “I like the Senate plan because it cuts commercial property taxes by 45% for more than 80% of Iowa commercial property owners.”

The two Senators, Bolkcom and Quirmbach, plan to take 10 minutes to describe the proposal.  The remainder of the hour will be dedicated to answering questions and listening to audience suggestions.

“I want to hear what people in Cedar Rapids think about commercial property tax proposals," said Hogg.  "I supported SF522 last year because it would provide significant tax cuts to small business without shifting the tax burden to homeowners and without depriving cities and schools of the revenue they need to be successful.”