City Of Marion: 10-Year Extension Of Local Option Sales Tax To Appear On November's Ballot

Press release from the City of Marion:

09/29/2021 1:52 PM

On Nov. 2, 2021, Marion residents and the metro area will vote on whether or not to extend the local option sales tax (LOST) for 10 years. In this vote, the contiguous cities in the Cedar Rapids metro area will vote as one.

In Marion, the ballot language states that 70 percent of the funds will go toward street and sewer construction, reconstruction, repair and improvements and the other 30 percent will be used for community projects consisting of any general or essential corporate purpose.

Marion as a community will be a net beneficiary of the tax, if passed. The city would receive an estimated $6.4 million in the first year. Over the life of the tax, an estimated $70 million would be returned to the community.

Marion has used the current tax to support community improvement projects like the new fire station, YMCA and library in addition to enhancements to our parks and trails and replacement of fire equipment. In addition, the City has invested in improvements to major and arterial roads, neighborhood streets, regional stormwater detention and the sanitary sewer system.

Using LOST proceeds for infrastructure projects keeps the debt service levy down. This is an indirect form of property tax relief. It allows the City to pay cash for projects rather than borrowing.

Proposed infrastructure projects to be funded by local option sales tax include improvements to neighborhood streets, sidewalks and sanitary sewer, broadband infrastructure, 11th Street realignment, 10th Street/Echo Hill Road connection and Tower Terrace Road construction.

Proposed community improvement projects include the expansion of recreational aquatics opportunities, the second phase of Prospect Meadows, a fourth fire station and fire station equipment replacement, the second phase of Prairie Hill Park and other park facility improvements.

The funds would help accomplish infrastructure projects in 10 years that would otherwise take 24-26 years.

Pass or fail?
State law requires cities in a metro area with touching borders to vote as a block on sales-tax measures. The total vote in the block of cities determines the vote outcome. Because of that, there are four potential outcomes:

Election Information 

The next City election is Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voter registration forms and absentee ballot request forms must be submitted to Linn County Election Services by Oct. 18, 2021.

Current council seats that will be on the ballot are Council At-Large, Council At-Large to fill a vacancy, Ward 2 and Ward 4. There will also be three public measures on the ballot including the renewal of the 1% local option sales tax collection, a change to the number of members on the Library Board and a change to the length of the term for members of the Library Board.

For more information, please contact the City Clerk at cityclerk@cityofmarion.org or 319-743-6301.

This press release was produced by the City of Marion. The views expressed here are the author’s own.