Public Policy from Cid

Cedar Rapids, Iowa USA is a community of approximately 126,000 people and located approximately 30 minutes north of the University of Iowa. The community is located roughly four hours west of Chicago, Illinois. Cedar Rapids is roughly 4-5 hours drive from Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha and Minneapolis. A community that once boast, that we are the world's leader in exports per capita. A community rebuilding from a change in form of government and from the Flood of 2008!

14 March 2009

Spring is in the Air, as are taxes, budgets and crime...

The Friday, March 13, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal highlighted a newspaper article titled, God Will Provide - Unless the Government Gets There First. For more on a related subject, read Public Interest Institute Brief: Is the U.S. "Stingy" With Foreign Aid to Developing Countries.

Where will Cedar Rapids head, as we rebuild from the tragic Flood of 2008? In public policy and as a community, what direction are we headed in 2009 and beyond?

The City of Cedar Rapids plays a big role in Iowa Lottery sales per The Gazette. Iowa's top voluntary tax is popular in Cedar Rapids.

How will Cedar Rapids fare among the LIST: 3,800-plus projects vying for Iowa bond money per The Gazette story? Several projects are related to Flood Recovery, but certainly not all.

University of Iowa's new flood damage estimate: $743 million per The Gazette.

Is there a Crime problem on the horizon in Cedar Rapids? Shots fired during robbery at McDonald's in Cedar Rapids per The Gazette. With the economy and impact of the Flood of 2008, what direction will Crime take in Cedar Rapids? Shots fired in one of three overnight robberies to 89 cited for violating Cedar Rapids flood curfew.

With Spring approaching, 2Nd half property taxes are becoming due, corporate and individual income tax deadlines are coming up. Local governments and schools are working on their budgets for the next fiscal year. The City of Cedar Rapids is still preparing their final budget. KCRG reports budget almost done.

Linn County, Iowa: The Gazette reports Linn certifies new budget and earlier story: Linn County supervisors to certify budget.
Kirkwood Community College story: Kirkwood board OKs budget.
K-12 spending is likely to rise for 2009-10 as the House and local school boards prepare for the upcoming budget year.

The City looks to raise revenue through Red-light cameras coming to Cedar Rapids by June per The Gazette. Hopefully, public safety will be a by-product as well, but that will have to be determined.

The City of Cedar Rapids successfully passed the 1% local option sales tax on March 3Rd. Now, May 5Th the communities that defeated the 1% will take a community re-vote on the local option sales tax. Marion to be specific on option tax projects per The Gazette.

peace

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