Legislators just say no to Iowa City

IOWA CITY - The City Council on Monday had its annual meeting with area legislators and presented them a list of priorities. The state lawmakers pretty much deflected every request.

First up from the city was a request to tax non-owner-occupied condominiums as commercial properties. Mayor Regenia Bailey said the city estimates it loses $2 million in property taxes each year on condos that are rented out but are taxed at the much lower residential rate.

“Property tax change in Iowa? Uh, I'll probably have a full head of hair before” that happens, said baldheaded Rep. Dave Jacoby, a Democrat from Coralville.

Council members also said they'd support another round of I-JOBS stimulus funding from the state at least equal to the $118.5 million up for grabs earlier this year.

“Have you seen our budget?” asked Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City.

In November, the nonpartisan Legislative Service Agency projected a state budget gap of $1.07 billion for the upcoming fiscal year.

Other requests included increasing the cap on the hotel/motel tax from 7 percent to 9 percent; increasing fees for cigarette, liquor and beer licenses; making no changes to tax increment financing rules and some alcohol-related items.

Legislators?

“Almost everything we talked about was new revenue, and there's probably not going to be new revenue from the state,” said Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City.