Tax relief, transportation funding on Chamber Alliance priority list

Commercial and industrial property tax relief, new economic development incentives and more funding for repair of Iowa's road and bridges are among the top  priorities of the Iowa Chamber Alliance for the upcoming legislative session.

The non-partisan coalition representing 16 chambers of commerce and economic development organizations throughout the state on Wednesday said it will focus on four key issues that will serve as a guide on how the governor and Iowa Legislature can further enhance economic growth.

"“Within the last year, Iowa has made gains in encouraging economic growth including the creation of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress,"  said Ken Anderson, president of the Iowa Chamber Alliance. "This public-private partnership – born out of an Alliance concept proposal -- will allow the flexibility, nimbleness and expertise for economic development in Iowa.

"Despite this success, certain issues must again be addressed. This includes commercial and industrial property taxes, economic development tools, transportation and infrastructure investment and education reform. All of these are priorities for the Iowa Chamber Alliance."

In addition to advocating for commercial and industrial property tax relief, the Chamber Alliance said it also supports efforts to simplify and reduce corporate income taxes and flatten and streamline the personal income tax code. The organization also wants the Legislature to address unfunded mandates, pensions and other measures to help offset rollback effects on local governments.

The Chamber Alliance is seeking new incentives and tools for the Iowa Economic Development Authority as well as a review of existing incentives to determine their effectiveness.

With regard to repairing and upgrading Iowa's transportation infratructure, the Chamber Alliance said it supports new or alternative sources of revenue, including a fuel tax increase, provided the cap on TIME-21 is removed. TIME-21 is a fund that was established in 2008 by the Iowa Legislature partly by boosting certain vehicle titling and registration fees.

The Chamber Alliance maintains that comprehensive education reform is critical for Iowa's economic growth from three perspectives: preparing the workforce for global challenges and competition, ensuring a high quality of life and providing the best opportunities for Iowa's children.