Relating to local government property taxes, financial authority, operations, and budgets, and including effective date and applicability provisions

The bill similarly reduces a threshold relating to when a lease or lease-purchase contract is not subject to approval procedures similar to essential county purposes bonds.402(3) governs a county’s authority to enter into loan agreements and, in part, subjects loan agreements for real property to procedures for approval at an election following a petition if the principal amount of the contract exceeds specified thresholds categorized by county population. The bill reduces the thresholds for each category by percent.403 requires each county to prepare and file an annual financial report. The bill requires that beginning with the annual financial report filed by December 1, 2024, each such report shall include a list of bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by the county during the preceding fiscal year payable from any source, including the amount of the issuance, the project or purpose of the issuance, whether the issuance was approved at election or eligible to be subject to a petition for an election, and identification of issuances from the fiscal year or prior fiscal years related to the same project or purpose.95 per $1,000 of assessed value of taxable property in the county.426, Code 2023, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023.50 per $1,000 of taxable value and the limitation determined for the preceding fiscal year, as adjusted under the bill.5 percent of the total assessed value used to calculate taxes for the current fiscal year.25 percent of the total assessed value used to calculate taxes for the current fiscal year.426, Code 2023, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023.95 and the levy rate for the preceding fiscal year as adjusted under the bill.5 percent of the total assessed value used to calculate taxes for the current fiscal year.25 percent of the total assessed value used to calculate taxes for the current fiscal year.424 for maintenance and operation of the courts and, if the county imposed such a levy in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, increases the county’s general services levy rate authority by such levy rate amount as previously described.426 authorizes a county experiencing unusual circumstances, including increases in population, natural disaster or emergency, problems relating to major new functions required by state law, staffing problems, need for additional moneys to continue certain programs, need for new county programs that provide a substantial benefit to residents, and reduced or unusually low growth rate in the county, to levy additional property taxes for general county services or rural county services. If the county imposed such levies in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, the bill increases the county’s applicable general services levy rate authority by such levy rate amounts as previously described. The bill strikes authority to levy such additional taxes for all unusual circumstances except a natural disaster.433A relating to the approval procedures for a county budget to account for the modification of levy amount and rate changes in the bill.441(2)(b) defines “essential county purpose” to include public buildings, including the site or grounds of, and the erection, equipment, remodeling, or reconstruction of, and additions or extensions to the buildings, and including the provision and maintenance of juvenile detention or shelter care facilities, when the cost does not exceed specified thresholds based on county population. The bill reduces each of the threshold amounts by percent.441(2)(c).442 governs county procedures for the issuance of general county purpose bonds. In lieu of calling an election, the board of supervisors may institute proceedings for the issuance of bonds for a general county purpose by publishing a notice of the proposal to issue the bonds, including a statement of the amount and purpose of the bonds, and the right to petition for an election if the amount of the bonds is less than specified threshold amounts based on county population. The bill reduces each of the threshold amounts by percent. Division I of the bill takes effect July 1, 2024, and applies to county taxes and budgets for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2024. DIVISION II —— CITY PROPERTY TAXES.10 per $1,000 of taxable value.48, Code 2023, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023.10 per $1,000 and the amount determined under the bill for the prior year, as adjusted under the bill.5 percent of the total assessed value used to calculate taxes for the current fiscal year.25 percent of the total assessed value used to calculate taxes for the current fiscal year.10 levy limit.1 by such levy rate amounts as previously described.48, in part, authorizes a city with a reduced property tax base or unusually low growth rate or experiencing unusual circumstances, including increases in population, natural disaster or emergency, problems relating to major new functions required by state law, staffing problems, need for additional moneys to continue certain programs, and need for new programs that provide a substantial benefit to residents, to appeal to the state appeal board to suspend levy limitations and levy additional property taxes. The bill provides that for budgets for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2024, suspension of the statutory property tax levy limitations for a city shall only be approved for a natural disaster.1.22 requires each city to prepare and publish an annual financial report. The bill requires that beginning with the annual financial report published by December 1, 2024, each such report shall include a list of bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by the city during the preceding fiscal year payable from any source, including the amount of the issuance, the project or purpose of the issuance, whether the issuance was approved at election or eligible to be subject to a petition for an election, and identification of issuances from the fiscal year or prior fiscal years related to the same project or purpose.24(4).24A(4) governs a city’s authority to enter into loan agreements and, in part, subjects loan agreements for real property to procedures for approval at an election following a petition if the principal amount of the contract exceeds specified thresholds categorized by city population. The bill reduces the contract amount thresholds for each category by percent.26 governs city procedures for the issuance of city general corporate purpose bonds. In lieu of calling an election, the city council may institute proceedings for the issuance of bonds for a general corporate purpose by publishing a notice of the proposal to issue the bonds, including a statement of the amount and purpose of the bonds, and the right to petition for an election if the amount of the bonds is less than specified threshold amounts based on city population. The bill reduces each of the threshold amounts by percent. Division II takes effect July 1, 2024, and applies to taxes and budgets for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2024. DIVISION III —— PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RECREATIONAL TAX LEVY. Code chapter 300 authorizes the imposition of a voter-approved property tax levy for the establishment and maintenance of public recreation places and playgrounds, and necessary accommodations for the recreation places and playgrounds, in the public school buildings and grounds of the district. Code chapter 300 also authorizes each school board to cooperate with public or private agencies having custody and management of public parks or buildings or grounds open to the public for the supervision and instruction necessary to carry on public educational and recreational activities in the parks, buildings, and grounds located within the district.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The property tax levy under Code chapter 300 also provides financial support to community education programs established under Code chapter 276, which provide educational, recreational, cultural, and other community services and programs. The bill repeals Code chapter 300 and makes corresponding amendments to other provisions of law effective July 1, 2027, and applies to fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2027. The bill provides that financial support for a community education program under Code chapter 276 may be provided from funds received by the school district under Code chapter 423F.3(6)(a)(1), moneys received by a school district from the secure an advanced vision for education fund may continue to be utilized for activities previously provided for under Code chapter 300 and Code chapter 276. The bill prohibits a levy under Code chapter 300 from being approved at election on or after the effective date of the provision in the bill, which is effective upon enactment, and limits the rate at which previously approved levies can be imposed for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. The bill also provides that moneys available in the public education and recreation levy fund at the conclusion of the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2026, shall be expended by the school corporation for the purposes authorized under Code chapter 300, Code 2023. DIVISION IV —— BRUCELLOSIS AND TUBERCULOSIS ERADICATION FUND —— LEVY.75 cents per $1,000. The bill strikes the authority to levy such a tax beginning with property taxes due and payable in fiscal years beginning July 1, 2024. DIVISION V —— COUNTY SEATS. The bill specifies that pursuant to the general grant of home rule power conferred by the Constitution of the State of Iowa and if not inconsistent with the laws of the general assembly, a county that has designated more than one city to be a county seat may consolidate or reduce the number of county seats by ordinance. The bill also repeals 1848 Iowa Acts, First Extraordinary Session, chapter 52, which in part required Lee County to maintain a district court at Fort Madison and the city of Keokuk, required the clerk of district court to keep an office at Fort Madison and the city of Keokuk, and required the sheriff of Lee County to keep an office at Fort Madison and the city of Keokuk. Division V of the bill takes effect upon enactment.