Reiland Says He Would Reduce, Eliminate 2 Percent Utility Fee: Ankeny City Council Q&A

On July 17, Ankeny residents will head to the polls to take the first step in deciding who will be the next member of the Ankeny City Council.

In an effort to help you learn more about the four candidates up for your vote in next week's primary election, Ankeny Patch asked them a few questions to gauge where they stand on specific city issues, as well as questions to help you know more about who they are.

The four candidates are , , and Tom Reiland. Today, we introduce you to Tom Reiland.

The special election will be held Aug. 14.

TOM REILAND

Age: 41

Address: 118 S.W. Meadowlark Court

Employer: I work for Kraft Foods Inc. as a sales service representative in the Des Moines market area.

How long have you lived in Ankeny: 23 years

Family: My wife is Julie and we have 2 daughters, ages 16 and 9.

Summary of education: I am a 1989 graduate of Clarion High School in Clarion, Iowa. I studied fire science at and I hold several fire service and EMS related certifications.

What experience do you have working on councils, boards or commissions?

I am a past president of the Polk County Firefighters Association. I have been unable to serve on any other boards or commissions until now due to work schedules and family commitments. I have regularly followed city council matters by reviewing each week's agenda, media reports, and attending meetings.

Where do you stand on the two-percent utility franchise fee? Do you believe placing small fees on residents is a good way to generate revenue?

I am opposed to the 2 percent franchise fee we are currently charged on our utility bills. It is wrong to create a revenue source when property tax revenues or user fees cannot cover operating expenses. I feel that this fee has put us at a disadvantage as we compete for manufacturing job growth and overall commercial tax base expansion. It is also a burden to our citizens, especially those who live on fixed incomes and families that are living paycheck to paycheck. I will work to reduce it and hopefully eliminate it all together. Recent changes to our ambulance service billing structure should generate enough money to come close to achieving these goals.

Are you happy with the city's current property tax rate? If not, what should it be set at and how would the additional money be spent or trimmed from the budget?

Like many residents I have spoken to, I am not happy with our property tax rate. We all want our tax levy to be as small as possible and we can achieve that with clear goal setting and prudent spending. Our fiscal year 2013 city tax levy has now gone over $12 due to our past spending practices and the debt we incurred. If we learn to live within our means, we can pay down our debt and bring our levy back down where we once were, at the midline of the other Polk County communities.

What is your plan to keep taxes manageable while still promoting growth and maintaining necessary services for Ankeny residents?

The key to keeping our taxes manageable is to focus on our core services and then prioritize spending in all the other areas. As we continue to grow, we will have to make difficult decisions about where we spend money. We need to distinguish whether we are spending tax dollars on a "want" or a "need." As an organization, the city has found ways to operate more efficiently and that is a trend that needs to be a continuous goal. 

If the city had a $100,000 surplus that had to be spent this year, where should it go?

If we had a $100,000 surplus, I would ask each department director to submit a project or purchase that was turned down in their budget that they feel is a priority item. It would have to be something that would benefit a majority of our citizens, such as completing an unfinished playground project, replacing outdated safety equipment, or a new snowplow. The city council would then decide where the funds would go to benefit the most people.

Explain your other top priorities (and why) should you be elected to the city council.

Our city needs to fully staff Fire Station 2 with a four-person engine company, instead of the current three-person company. After all, isn't that why the franchise fee was created? I want to ensure that all areas of our city receive the same level of protection. I will work to establish benchmarks in our economic development policy. We need a clear return on our investment of tax dollars, whether it's a certain number of jobs created or a set dollar amount of taxable valuation. We cannot simply spend money in the name of economic growth without seeing tangible results.

What do you think is Ankeny's biggest asset?

Ankeny's biggest asset is our sense of safety. Over the years, I have had many people tell me how safe they feel in Ankeny. Our public safety departments are among the best Central Iowa and their employees truly care about our residents. Even with our rapid growth, Ankeny has remained a safe place to call home.