Please take time this week to contact your legislators and the leadership contacts below. Thanks!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------- State Penny and Tax Equity Stuck The state penny bill, HF 854, to be amended with the property tax equity fund, is stuck in House Ways and Means. With a strong anti-tax group flexing their muscle, some legislators previously in favor are wavering. It is critical to communicate to all legislators, in both the House and Senate, the following benefits of passing HF 854 with the amendment: ¥ Equity for all students, rural or urban, is guaranteed. ¥ Significant property tax relief and equity for taxpayers is delivered. ¥ Retail poor districts can bond against the future revenues and take advantage of low interest rates while avoiding growing construction inflation. ¥ The fund is safe 51; a future legislature will not be able to muster a 2/3rds vote to change the use or steel from the SAVE fund, especially given loud objection from farmers, business owners, schools, contractors, and home owners. ¥ Urban districts can focus on completing construction plans delayed by declining revenue and increased costs. ¥ All districts are accountable to their district taxpayer with their revenue purpose statement. What57;s really going on at this point isn57;t really a content debate but rather a political one. Members also need to tell their legislators that: ¥ Since one of the biggest concerns is that legislators believe this will be seen as increasing taxes by $350 million, members need to let their legislators know they will assist in educating the public that this bill is not a tax increase; ¥ Remind legislators of conversations during their campaigns indicating their support; ¥ Make the message personal. Tell them what this will mean to your school district and the voters of your school district; ¥ Get other advocates involved in contacting your legislators 51; business interests, parents, Farm Bureau, etc. Call representatives at the House Switchboard (515) 281-3221 and senators at the Senate Switchboard (515) 281-3371 or send an email. Find their email addresses on the legislative web site: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/aspx/Legislators/LegislatorInfo.aspx. See The Des Moines Register Counterpoint Essays, April 9, 2007, on the State Penny: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007704090304. Check the IASB website to see the impact of this bill on long term sales tax revenues and property tax relief: http://www.ia-sb.org/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=2622. Specifically contact legislative leaders about moving this bill forward: House Leadership: Speaker Pat Murphy, Dubuque [EMAIL PROTECTED] Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Carlisle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ways and Means Chair, Paul Shomshor [EMAIL PROTECTED] Minority Leader, Christopher Rants [EMAIL PROTECTED] Senate Leadership: Majority Leader, Mike Gronstal, Council Bluffs [EMAIL PROTECTED] President, Jack Kibbie, Emmetsburg [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ways and Means Chair, Joe Bolkcom [EMAIL PROTECTED] Minority Leader, Mary Lundby [EMAIL PROTECTED] Governor Chet Culver http://www.governor.iowa.gov/administration/contact/ --- [This E-mail Scanned For Viruses By Declude Virus Scanner] [This E-mail Scanned For Spam By Declude JunkMail] --------------------------------------------------------- Archived messages from this list can be found at: http://www.mail-archive.com/info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us/ ---------------------------------------------------------
