Securing the Financial Future of University Heights

Since 2009, when the possibility for St. Andrew Church to move arose, our city has been wrestling with the dilemma of what to do with that property.  Initially we faced three possibilities:

• The development of that property by a private developer 
• The potential for the University of Iowa to purchase that property
•  The church not moving, in which case the other two possibilities would become moot.

Throughout all of these years and discussions, it has been one of my principles that we as a city take this potential opportunity to expand our tax base.  Now that the church has made the decision to definitively move, we are faced with two very real possibilities:

 The private developer, who has a purchase agreement with the church, works with the City of University Heights on developing that property;

OR

the City Council refuses to come to an agreement with the developer regarding a development.  

At that point the developer would walk away, and the University of Iowa will have the opportunity to buy this property for their own purpose.

During my research about expanding the tax base, I sought input from City administrators in five different municipalities in Eastern Iowa and the Des Moines area (Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, West Liberty, and Windsor Heights.)  and the Johnson County Supervisors.  I talked to these individuals because they are city management professionals, which we do not have in University Heights.  EACH of them said that in any budgeting process it is fiscally prudent and responsible to find ways to protect and expand a city's tax base, simply because the budgeting future cannot be predicted more than a few years out.  This information was so helpful and significant that I encouraged my fellow councilors to also call officials in other local government entities and seek their opinions.

Another of my principles is to ensure the financial viability of University Heights.  We are a small landlocked community, with limited ability to significantly expand our tax base.  The possibility of a private development on the St. Andrew property offers us a rare opportunity to positively impact our long-term city budgets.

The possibility of the University of Iowa being allowed to buy this property causes me concern.  We would lose this rare opportunity of increasing our tax revenues, and we would not be able to control what is developed by the University on that property.  Supporting this possibility is, in my opinion, short-sighted, and does nothing for our city's long-term financial future.

I am constantly seeking input from my fellow citizens, and I value all opinions.  As your representative I appreciate knowing your concerns, and especially want to know how you feel about this issue.  Please don't hesitate to comment.