Tiffin voters approve local-option sales tax

Tiffin voters overwhelmingly approved a 1-cent local-option sales tax Tuesday, with half the money to go toward projects that could include a new recreation center, fire station and park.

The city of 5,200 in Johnson County passed the sales tax with 186 votes (63 percent) in favor and 109 (37 percent) opposed. More than 10 percent of registered voters in the city turned out to vote, the Johnson County Auditor’s Office reported.

“The voting turnout was due to a significant campaign the city of Tiffin did by providing information,” Mayor Steve Berner said Wednesday. “People understood what they were voting for.”

The sales tax of 1 percent will start Jan. 1 and is expected to generate about $600,000 a year. Half the money will be used to keep Tiffin property taxes from going up much above the current levy rate of $11.80 per $1,000 of taxable value, Berner said.

The rest will be used to help pay for infrastructure projects in the growing community. In 2021, Tiffin was expected to double in size by 2030.

“My highest priority is the recreation center. The council also has that as a high priority.” said Berner. “My goal is to make that happen.”

Tiffin officials have been planning for a rec center since at least 2020, when they envisioned an indoor facility with a gymnasium with a walking track above it, fitness rooms and possibly a pool.

Other priority projects are a new fire station, a park with an inclusive playground and sewer and streets projects. Berner said he had a meeting scheduled for Wednesday to talk with the city administrator about next steps.

“I’m excited,” he said. “It’s good for Tiffin.”

The Iowa Legislature in 1985 passed a law allowing local governments to impose a local-option sales tax on top of the 6 percent state sales tax to raise additional revenue for specific projects and needs within their communities.

Tiffin joins the majority of Iowa cities, including Cedar Rapids, that already have a local-option sales tax. Iowa City and Coralville do not have a local-option sales tax.

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