Transcript Special Library Levy - State Library of Iowa

Special Library Levy
November 18, 2004
State Library of Iowa and
Iowa Library Service Areas
After the presentation, we’d like
you to be able to…
• Describe what the special library levy is
• List the steps in getting the special library
levy on the ballot
• State what the library can and cannot do
to help pass the levy
A goal for the
Iowa library community…
• After the general city election in
November, 2005, double the number of
Iowa cities that have passed the special
library levy (from 48 to 96).
Questions
• How many of you had heard of the special
library levy before town meetings?
• How many of you are from cities that have
already passed it?
From the Code of Iowa…
• 384.12 Additional taxes…”A city may
certify, for the general fund levy, taxes
which are not subject to the limit provided
in section 384.1, and which are in addition
to any other moneys the city may wish to
spend for such purposes, as follows…”
• (384.1 is the $8.10 limit which we’ll talk
about in a few minutes.)
Code continued
• 384.12 Additional taxes. (21)…”A tax not
to exceed twenty-seven cents per
thousand dollars of assessed value for
support of a public library, subject to
petition and referendum requirements of
subsection 1, except that if a majority
approves the levy, it shall be imposed.”
Say that again…
• In a nutshell, the Code allows cities to levy
an additional tax of up to $0.27 per $1,000
assessed property valuation for support of
a public library
• Even cities without public libraries could
pass the levy
• There is a petition and referendum
required to pass the levy
Why would you want to consider
the special library levy?
• Special levy is a possible source for
enhanced funding for library services
• The funding could be used to improve
library services - what is something you
would like the library to be able to offer to
your community?
Why (continued)
• In FY04, libraries lost about $1.7 million
(2.7% cut) in city funding as a result of the
Reinvention Bill
• Majority of Iowa cities are at the general
fund levy limit of $8.10 per $1000 of
valuation and have no capacity to
generate more funding for general fund
services.
Why are we talking
about this now?
• For the financial reasons mentioned earlier
• The soonest the levy could be on the
ballot is the next regular city election in
November, 2005 - talking about it now
gives you time to decide whether you want
to pursue it and to plan for it.
What are the steps to getting the
levy passed?
• Share information about the levy and its
benefits with your library board
• Discuss with the board how you would use
additional funds to improve library service
• Does the board want to pursue it?
If the board wants to pursue it…
• Inform key city officials - mayor, city
council, administrator, etc.
• A selling point is that the decision is in the
hands of the voters – they decide if they
want to tax themselves a little more to
support the public library
Additional steps
• Consult the city attorney
• Ask the county auditor about deadlines for
getting it on the ballot
• Discuss wording with the board- do you
want to “cap” the levy with an ending
date? (The referendum wording will also
appear on the petition.)
Referendum wording
Example 1
• Shall the City of _________, Iowa be
authorized to levy an amount of 27 cents
per $1,000 valuation for the purpose of
increasing the annual operating budget of
the __________ Public Library with the
levy to expire after five years on June 30,
2011?
Referendum wording
Example 2
• Shall the City of __________, Iowa be
authorized to levy, annually, a property tax
not to exceed twenty-seven cents per
thousand dollars of assessed value for the
purpose of increasing the annual operating
budget of the __________ Public Library,
with collection of the levy commencing in
the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006?
Petition
• Make sure the petition matches the
language of the referendum
• Discuss who will start and collect the
petition (be aware of ethics issues)
Petition (continued)
• Petition is valid if signed by 10% of eligible
voters in the last regular city election, but
not less than 10 persons (cannot be
signed by rural residents)
• Present signed petition to City Council
• City Council and City Administrator
forward the petition to the County Auditor
for inclusion on the ballot
Caution about promoting the levy
• Iowa Code 68A.505 prohibits the use of public
funds for any political purpose, including the
express advocacy of a ballot issue
• “Public moneys” includes direct or indirect
expenditure of funds by a governmental body,
the use of any property, resource, or equipment
owned by the governmental body, and use of
staff time during regular working hours
Caution (continued)
• Once a group of people have raised more
than $750 or spent more than $750 in a
calendar year for the purpose of
supporting (or opposing) the levy, the
group must file the Statement of
Organization as a committee.
• (Even if you don’t reach $750, you still
need to have “paid for by” on material)
Iowa Ethics & Campaign
Disclosure Board
• http://www.state.ia.us/government/iecdb/
• Brochure in your handouts, “Use of Public
Money or Property for Political Purposes,”
also available on website above
What can be done
to promote the levy
• Library board passing a resolution or
proclamation in support of the levy
• Library staffs active in and even leading
the campaign if it is on their own time
• Board members speaking to community
groups
• Library staff speaking to community
groups outside of work time
• Asking your Friends group for help
More promotional ideas
• Brochures, as long as they are not created
on library equipment, not paid for with
library funds, and not distributed in the
library
• Granting interviews to the media
• Asking individuals and board members to
write letters to the editor
• Suggesting individuals and service
organizations place ads in the local paper
When the levy passes
• Levy usually starts the following July 1. If
the levy passed in November, 2005, the
levy would start July 1, 2006.
• Let the Library Service Area and State
Library know about your success
• The State Library will publish the list of
cities passing the levy in Footnotes
Disclaimer
• This presentation including the sample
referendum language is provided for
informational purposes only. As with any
legal issue, the language may not be
appropriate for the individual circumstances
of your community. The authors of the
presentation and the presenters are not
attorneys and cannot give libraries legal
advice. Libraries are encouraged to consult
their own legal counsel regarding the special
library levy.