Public Measures on ballot

—What do they mean? How will they affect you?
HOWARD COUNty - There are four Public Measures on the ballot this year. Three are exclusively for residents of the City of Cresco, and one is for individuals living outside of any City limits (unincorporated areas).
Public Measure KF: The measure reads “To authorize imposition of a new local sales and services tax in the unincorporated ares of the County of Howard, that will continue without repeal of the existing local sales and services tax at the rate of one percent (1%) to be effective from July 1, 2023, until repealed.”
The legal terminology is slightly deceiving. 
This is not a new tax for those living in the rural areas. It is a continuation of the LOSST (Local Option Sales and Services Tax) funds. All the towns in the county have approved the 1% LOSST tax. 
Just like in all city limits, a 1% tax will be added to taxable purchases and services.
Businesses located in unincorporated areas of the county have been charging the 1% on their products and services since March 1994. It was voted on again in August 2000 and November 2012. In 2012, the verbage extended the tax for just 10 years. This public measure will be in place “until repealed.”
The Howard County Supervisors have authorized 75% of those pennies go to secondary roads, 20% to economic development and 5% to libraries.
The funds that come in from LOSST are a benefit to all the entities receiving them. 
Howard County Engineer Nick Rissman explained, “Secondary roads has received approximately $500,000, on average, per year from the LOSST.  This money has been and still is extremely important to our system.  
“Every penny has been spent on additional rock hauled to our gravel roads.  Prior to the 2012 vote, we placed approximately 90,000-100,000 ton of rock each year.  Since the 2012 vote, we have placed approximately 140,000-150,000 ton of rock each year.
“Our rock budget prior to 2012 was in the range of $600,000-$800,000.  It is currently $1.5 million.” He added the line item does not include county labor or equipment cost to haul or blade the rock.      
Also benefiting from the tax is economic development. Local director Jason Passmore noted, “This helps economic development and tourism for the entire county.”
Spiff Slifka added, “It enables us to help businesses and advertise and market events.”
Cresco, Elma and Lime Springs libraries also receive funds from LOSST. Director of Lime Springs Public Library Janet DeVries said, “This money is very important to libraries, as it helps us provide services and materials to our rural patrons. It is essential for us as we are dependent on it to help with the expenses that occur. We appreciate our county for the monthly check, as not all counties do this for libraries.”
Public Measures KG, KH and KI: All three measures will be on the ballots of Cresco City residents. All three pertain to Cresco Public Library. 
It is getting harder and harder to find individuals to volunteer to be a trustee. 
PM KG will allow the library to go from nine to six trustees.
PM KH will reduce the length of the term from six years to three.
PM KI will limit the number of consecutive terms from unlimited to three.

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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