What's on the ballot in Hesper Township, Winneshiek County

Shall the following amendment to the Constitution be adopted? Provides that any bill to increase the individual income tax rate or the corporate income tax rate, or the rate of any other type of tax based upon income or legal and special reserves, shall require the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the legislature for passage. Further, the two-thirds majority vote requirement applies to the passage of a bill to establish a new tax on any type of income or legal and special reserves imposed by the state. The requirement excludes taxes imposed at the option of a local government. A lawsuit challenging the proper enactment of a bill under this section must be filed no later than one year following the enactment. The Constitution of the State of Iowa is amended by adding the following new section to new Article XIII: Passage of a bill that increases the individual income tax rate or the corporate income tax rate, or the rate of any other type of tax based upon income or legal and special reserves, shall require the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the general assembly. This requirement does not apply to taxes imposed at the option of a local government. Passage of a bill that establishes a new tax on any type of income or legal and special reserves imposed by the state shall require the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the general assembly. A lawsuit challenging the proper enactment of a bill under this section must be filed no later than one year following the enactment. If such a lawsuit is not filed within the one-year limit, the bill shall be considered properly enacted under this section. Each bill to which this section applies must include a separate provision describing the requirements for enactment prescribed by this section. The general assembly shall enact laws to implement this section.

"Shall the City of Decorah, State of Iowa, issue its General Obligation Bonds or Capital Loan Notes in an amount not exceeding the amount of $20,900,000, in one or more series, for the purpose of paying costs of designing, constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, improving, equipping and furnishing municipal facilities including a new fire station and renovation of city hall, with related site improvements?"

Summary: To authorize a change in the use of the one percent (1%) local sales and services tax in the City of Spillville effective July 1, 2027. The use of the one percent (1%) local option sales and services tax shall be changed in the City of Spillville, effective July 1, 2027. PROPOSED USES OF THE TAX: Revenues from the local option sales and services tax (LOSST) shall be allocated as follows: Zero percent (0%) for property tax relief, One Hundred percent (100%) will be allocated annually by the City Council, for any lawful purpose, including but not limited to the following purposes: Capital equipment purchases and repairs, street, water, sewer and other capital improvement and maintenance projects, and/or for assistance to the Bily Clocks Museum and Antonin Dvorak Exhibit. The City of Spillville LOSST fund was previously established in 1991. At that time, its use was limited to street improvements. This amendment will broaden the permissible uses of the LOSST funds, allowing for flexible planning for the use of LOSST funds, with the annual LOSST funds to be as allocated by the City Council, based on its determination of the City’s changing annual needs.