March 3Rd Local Option Sales Tax approaching for Cedar Rapids and much of Linn County, Iowa

Is the Cedar Rapids ballot language clear and well written? Unlike Iowa City, the City of Cedar Rapids rushed to get the sales tax thrown together and on the ballot for a March 3Rd vote. The City of Iowa City took their time and will vote May 5, 2009, as Iowa law provided.

Does Cedar Rapids have other options? Yes, they can redraft the language and get it right for taxpayers for an August 4, 2009 or November 3, 2009 vote. The City of Cedar Rapids can re-write the language and a re-vote is possible, if the voters in the City of Cedar Rapids turndown the March 3Rd ballot language. The following article by The Gazette's Adam Belz answers questions on the local-option sales tax points out this option for the City of Cedar Rapids and taxpayers (voters).,

For more information on the upcoming vote on March 3rd in Linn County, visit the Linn County Auditor's web site.

The Gazette has another interesting development on the upcoming Local Option Sales Tax.
Sales tax law change affects amount to counties The Gazette points out...

A little-noticed change that is part of the state's new local-option sales
tax law significantly reduces the amount of revenue coming to unincorporated
Linn and Johnson counties and increases the revenue that could go to the city of
Marion and Iowa...

Cedar Rapids State Senator Rob Hogg worked out a change in the State's formula, as the article points out.

The City of Cedar Rapids did rush the vote for March 3Rd. They are completing resolutions to clean up the damage, but voters should be careful, because like the Board of Supervisors pay issue, the City Council can change resolutions as easy as they create them. The ballot language is what really is key, when reviewing the merits of a 5 year and 3 month local option sales tax.

On Monday, Doug Neumann of the ERPC discussed with the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids as The Gazette reported in the following article Cedar Rapids recovery group asks for $22.4 million.

What happens if local-option sales fails... as The Gazette web site is painting...

Ask Rob Hogg what will happen if the proposed local-option sales tax fails
March 3 in Cedar Rapids, and he paints a grim picture. The state senator
envisions blocks and blocks of abandoned homes rotting in the summer heat and
humidity, surrounded by... More
>>

Well, one real option for the City of Cedar Rapids and taxpayers have is a re-vote and better ballot language. There is more than one way to skin a cat. If Cedar Rapids needs to get a "skin in the game" shouldn't it be done right?

peace