Protect decision-making at the local level

The GOP legislators in Des Moines are promoting House File 773, which is another assault on local control.

It would create a 2 percent”soft cap” on property tax growth, as well as other financial accounting restrictions, which would prevent cities and counties from funding emergency responses, such as special police and fire protection needs, needed educational funding, ongoing maintenance needs and IPERS/411 pension payments. If passed, the bill could seriously impact the ability of local governments to provide necessary services.

This could force local governments to impose other means of funding, such as increased license fees or even fines to provide needed services.

The GOP stated at the beginning of this session they would not touch public employee pensions. This is a 'back door” approach to weaken the city's, county's, and school district's role in adequately funding these pension systems.

We elect local government officials for a reason, and they, not the legislators in Des Moines, will act in our best interests at the local level.

Please write or call your legislators telling them to vote no onHF 773. It's a bad bill.

Robert Sprengeler

Cedar Rapids