Polk Des Moines Taxpayers Association
2010 Position Statement
Budget Process –
Governments should conduct a comprehensive review of revenues, programs and expenses each year. Operational budgets should be developed using a zero-based budget process as opposed to an incremental process. It is not acceptable for governments to establish budgets with an assumption of growth without a clear analysis of need.
In these difficult economic times, we should recognize not all government programs are equal. It is not prudent or, even, possible to cut all programs equally to balance the budget. Across the board cuts are rarely ever a function of good government.
Tough choices will have to be made at all levels of government. When it comes to evaluating staffing and programming, government should protect the most vital services and reduce budgets in areas that are non-essential to each entity’s mission.
The budget process should be conducted in public with citizen involvement.
Regional Coordination –
The citizens are better served when governments work together. Local government and schools should collaborate to improve service and create efficiencies. Regional entities should be supported by an equitable regional funding structure.
Economic Development –
Economic development is vital to Central Iowa. Local government should promote sustainable growth. Governments within Central Iowa should work together to stimulate economic growth and not compete with one another for individual projects. Government economic development initiatives should only be approved after a thorough cost/benefit analysis.
Property Tax Reform –
Iowa is in need of comprehensive tax reform. The best and most logical place to start is with a reform of Iowa's property tax structure. The first step is to freeze the growing disparity of property taxes among property classes. Next, develop a plan to reduce the reliance on property taxes and create a fair and balanced structure between residential, commercial, agricultural and not-for-profit entities.
Education Funding Formula –
Iowa's education funding formula is outdated. The General Assembly should construct an education formula that promotes student achievement by accounting for the needs of students and is not based solely on a district's student census. School districts should be given additional time to manage the budget process by lengthening the time between legislative actions, state mandated contract settlement dates and the budget certification deadline. Districts should be given incentives to collaborate, achieve cost efficiencies and eliminate duplicative services.
Open Government –
Governmental decision-making should be conducted in full public view. Public officials should approve and participate in closed sessions and restrict public access to records on only rare occasion as permitted by law. The Association maintains that Iowa’s open meeting and records laws set a minimum – not a maximum – standard of responsibility for those involved in government.
When voting on significant matters, the Association believes it is within the spirit of the Open Meeting Law’s expectation of accountability for elected officials to explain why they voted the way they did. A question and answer session following any significant vote would allow the public an opportunity to ask for the officials’ rational. Alternatively, the officials could volunteer their reasoning during, or immediately following, the vote. Regardless the method, to be truly accountable elected officials should be able to communicate the determining factors in making their vote.
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