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Monday, October 27, 2014

PLEASE Support LOST!

Over the weekend I helped deliver fliers to U-Heights residents who have not yet voted in the Nov. 4th Election. We wanted to remind our neighbors of the importance of supporting LOST, the Local Option Sales Tax. Here is what we handed out:




 Local Option Sales Tax


 



Voting YES to One Penny (LOST)
 Supports & Improves University Heights
 Back Side of Ballot

What it will take for the measure to pass?
Votes will be counted collectively in the five contiguous cities in the county (Iowa City, Coralville, Tiffin, University Heights, and North Liberty) with a simple majority (50 percent plus 1) required for passage. Votes in the surrounding cities and the county will be counted separately. Strong support by U-Heights could well tip the balance to an overall majority in the 5 cities.


Who pays the one-penny tax? How long does it last?
For ten (10) years, everyone who shops in the contiguous area pays a one-penny-sales tax.  It’s projected that non-residents and visitors will pay over 21 cents from every dollar of sales tax collected.

What does the one-penny tax cover?
The tax is applied to retail purchases. The tax will NOT apply to many basic items such as groceries, prescription drugs, gasoline, rent, mortgages, vehicles, medical services, or utilities subject to a franchise fee.

How will the revenues be distributed?
The sales tax revenues will be pooled and shared according to a state formula.

How much revenue will be collected?
It is estimated that approximately $16-20 million in sales tax will be collected each year if the tax is approved by all jurisdictions in Johnson County. University Heights' share is estimated to be $100,000 each year (for a total of $1,000,000 over the ten year life of the tax).

How will the one-penny tax revenue be spent in University Heights?
By resolution, the University Heights City Council has specified that the entire amount of the tax will be used for “community space acquisition, furnishing, maintenance, and upkeep; street improvements and repairs; and/or any other lawful purpose.” The tax thus will be available to cover purchasing community space (a community center) or the rising costs of such things as library service, fire protection, snow and leaf removal, bus service, and recycling, for example.

We support the referendum – vote YES on or before Nov. 4th!
Early Vote UIHC 10 AM- 4PM on 10/27, 10/28, 10/29    Vote St. Andrew 7 AM- 9 PM on 11/4
Carla Aldrich, Chris Anderson, Pat Bauer, Kathie Belgum, Carolyn Brown, David Drake, Karen Drake, Anne Frankel, Joe Frankel, Bob From, Louise From, Bob Hanson, Gloria Hanson, Lisa Haverkamp, Mike Haverkamp, Jase Humphrey, Lori Kimura, Catherine Lane, Jim Lane, Chris Luzzie, Virginia Miller, Art Nowak, Silvia Quezada, John Reitz, Deb Wretman, Rich Wretman, Ken Yeggy, Pat Yeggy, Jerry Zimmerman
                                               
                                                                                  Paid for by Mike Haverkamp & Pat Yeggy



If you read the "supporters" list you will see it is a great cross-section of town that is behind this measure. Please remember to flip your ballot over and vote "YES" Early voting will be held at University Hospitals through Wednesday in the main lobby.

If you want more information about Local Option Sales Tax visit this site:

http://yesforourcommunities.com/

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