Published: February 11, 2008 09:01 am      

Residents quiz legislators

DEWITT — A group of residents from rural Clinton County came to a legislative coffee here Saturday full of questions and concerns.

Area legislators at the table with some of the answers were Rep. Steve Olson, R-DeWitt, Sen. Roger Stewart, D-Preston, Sen. Frank Wood, D-Eldridge and Rep. Tom Schueller, D-Maquoketa. Rep. Polly Bukta, D-Clinton, was not present.

Wood pointed out all 99 counties in Iowa have adopted the one cent local option sales tax for schools, with varying benefits to schools based on the amount of retail traffic in the county.

There is now a bill in the legislature to make it a statewide tax with the money collected divided equally across the state.

In Clinton County, the tax yields about $800 per student, which can be spent for infrastructure needs only, Wood said, while in other counties schools receive up to $1,200 per student. The statewide average is $725 to $750.

“If the bill now in the legislature becomes law, all school districts would be limited to $575 per kid,” he said. “That’s a little less, but it would be guaranteed, so school districts can take care of bricks and mortar.”

The tax adopted by the individual counties is only good for 10 years, after which it must face a new referendum.

Another change in the statewide LOST bill would make the tax apply to automobile sales, which it currently does not. That money, instead of going to schools, would go into the road use fund.

“The DOT says it needs $200 million a year just to maintain the roads we have right now,” Sen. Wood said.

Olson explained another bill that came before the House recently to address highway needs.

“For vehicle purchases made after Jan. 1, 2009, it would make a little adjustment in registration and license fees,” he said. “Any vehicle you own today would not be impacted.”

The bill “has a long way to go before a vote is taken on the floor,” he pointed out, and he added: “In my opinion, a gas tax would be a more fair route to go. Those that use the roads burn the gas and out of staters coming through would all participate” in paying for the roads.

“But the Governor has said he will not sign (a gas tax increase bill). So they have gone this other route.”

One attendee said he hopes to live long enough to drive four-lane U.S. 30 to Cedar Rapids.

The lawmakers, who drive I-80 to Des Moines and back every week during the session, were unanimous in stressing that taking care of existing highways is the first need.

“There’s so much traffic, going so fast, it looks like a junk yard,” said Stewart. “It’s pretty dangerous.”



Teachers’ salaries

A woman in the group said she has two children who are interested in teaching, “but it’s kinda hard to keep them in Iowa when salaries in Illinois are so much higher.”

Wood said an idea that has been discussed in the education committee is helping teachers pay back their student loans if they teach in Iowa for four or five years.

“If we can get them to stay here for four years, we’ve got ‘em hooked,” he said.

Teacher certification for professionals in other fields also was discussed. Wood pointed out his school district had to go to Wisconsin to bring in a certified industrial tech teacher.

But, he cautioned, outside professionals who know the content material of a subject may need to learn teaching skills.

Olson pointed out the legislature made strides in the last session to raise teachers’ salaries and has already passed a bill to let districts to increase their allowable growth in certified budgets by 4 percent.

He also said he anticipates that a bill for tuition grants will be funded.



Kudos to Iowa

A new resident of Iowa said his family moved to Iowa from Moline in order to find appropriate special education for a daughter with a disability.

“A pat on the back to you,” he told the legislators.



More oversight for brokers

An attendee told the legislators about the practices of a broker who caused him to lose his automobile.

Stewart, who is a banker, assured him, “There is a bill we passed out of a subcommittee this past week which would give more oversight to what brokers do.

“The Attorney General’s office has endorsed the bill, which would be administered through the banking division.”



Other topics discussed

n A man with an idea for saving energy on trucks was given information on pre-applications for research funds.

n An attendee concerned about illegal immigrants who undercut local wages drew understanding from Schueller, a contractor, who recounted cut rate roof repairs done in Maquoketa following a hail storm that now are leaking.

n Lower interest rates may stimulate the economy, but they depress earnings on retirement savings, the legislators were reminded.

n Smoking bans were viewed from all sides.