Iowa House Bill HF289

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/14/23
• Refer: 2/14/23

Caption

A bill for an act relating to conducting elections for benefited recreational lake and water quality districts.(See HF 557.)

Impact

The bill introduces a set tax levy limit for recreational lake districts and water quality districts. Specifically, it allows for a tax of no more than four dollars per thousand dollars of assessed property value for recreational lake districts, while water quality districts are capped at twenty-five cents per thousand. This levy must be renewed through an election every eight years. The change reflects an effort to streamline funding methods for such districts, potentially increasing transparency and accountability in the taxation process.

Summary

House File 289 is a legislative bill that outlines the procedures for conducting elections related to benefited recreational lake and water quality districts in Iowa. The bill modifies Section 357E.8 of the Iowa Code by mandating that elections regarding the establishment of these districts, including proposed tax levies and trustee selections, must be conducted by the county commissioner of elections. This change aims to standardize the election process and remove the reliance on local boards to appoint judges for conducting these elections.

Contention

Notable points of contention around HF289 relate to the adjustments made to local election autonomy. Critics may express concerns about the increased control the county election commissioner will have over these elections, diminishing local involvement in determining how elections are managed within their specific districts. The governance changes proposed in the bill encourage a centralized election process that some may view as an overreach, potentially leading to disputes over representative self-governance in these specialized districts.