THE CITY OF MONTICELLO, IOWA
RESOLUTION #18-62
Resolution in Support of Continued Funding of Statewide Reimbursement of
Commercial/Industrial Property Tax Revenue Reductions
IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MONTICELLO, IOWA
WHEREAS, reforms approved by the Iowa Legislature in 2013 created a reduction in property values subject to taxation for commercial, industrial and railroad properties; and
WHEREAS, the Iowa Legislature also established a statewide reimbursement to local governments to fund property tax revenue reductions resulting from the reforms, also known as “the backfill”; and
WHEREAS, the Iowa Legislature has approved a full appropriation to the backfill since its inception; and
WHEREAS, the City of Monticello received approximately $237,000 in backfill dollars for FY ’15 through FY ’18, and
WHEREAS, local governments, that level of government most accountable to the electorate and generally, as a result thereof, the most efficient form of government, providing those essential and desired community services to its’ residents and the residents of other communities, both urban and rural, lying outside of its corporate limits, and
WHEREAS, the property tax reductions put in place by the legislature resulted in a reduction in property tax revenues to the City of Monticello and to date the State of Iowa, consistent with the promises made at the passage of said legislation, has backfilled the City those sums lost or not received as a result of the property tax reductions, and
WHEREAS, current proposed legislation to discontinue the backfill would be detrimental to the ability of the City of Monticello, and other municipalities, to provide for those essential services and needs of its citizens, and it would be particularly unfair and inappropriate to not fund the backfill anticipated for FY ’19 at this late date due to the fact that the City of Monticello has long been certified based upon the anticipated and promised backfill.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the Great Seal for the City of Monticello, Iowa to be affixed. Done this 16th day of April, 2018.
Brian Wolken, Mayor
Attest:
Sally Hinrichsen, City Clerk