ISAC Update: 2.5.16

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86th Iowa General Assembly, Second Session, Week Four This was an unusual week in the Iowa Legislature as they were off on Monday to allow members to attend their local caucus in their districts, and there was little action on Tuesday due to the winter storm that hit Iowa. Committee and subcommittee work was active again on Wednesday and part of Thursday as many members left early to attend the visitation for former State Senator and Dubuque County Supervisor Tom Hancock. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends for the loss of an outstanding leader in state and local government.

NEW Standing Budget Review Subcommittee NEW Legalizing Fireworks NEW Iowa Public Agency Investment Trust NEW Update on Projects Funded by Gas Tax Increase NEW Environmental Lobby Day and REAP Day at the Capitol Weekly Legislative Forums County Day at the Capitol

New and Noteworthy NEW Dangerous Dog Policy and Rabies Regulations Educational Session NEW 2016 NACo Achievement Awards Now Accepting Submissions Spring School Registration is Now Open

Standing Budget Review Subcommittee This year the House Appropriations Committee formed a bipartisan Standing Budget Review subcommittee charged with the task, through a series of meetings, to examine the $600 million in funding in the Standing Appropriations bill. This appropriations bill is typically one of the last bills passed every session, and this year legislators want to take a more in-depth look at the programs that are funded by this legislation. One program that is scheduled for review next week that is vital to counties is the Department of Revenue’s Commercial and Industrial Property Tax Replacement Program. This program backfills $154 million to local governments to replace lost revenue brought on by the passage of SF 295, which creates a business property tax credit for commercial, industrial, and railway property. This backfill is something ISAC monitors closely every year as it is incredibly important to county budgets all over Iowa. As state revenue growth has decreased, it is essential that ISAC members continue to let their legislators know the importance of funding the backfill.

Click here to comment on the Standing Budget Review subcommittee.

Legalizing Fireworks SF 508, a bill legalizing the sale, purchase, and use of certain fireworks in Iowa, passed out of the Senate State Government Committee with amendment on Wednesday. During the committee meeting an amendment was adopted that would make the use of fireworks within a jurisdiction an opt-in rather than an opt-out. Under the amendment a board of supervisors could allow the use of fireworks within the county. ISAC is registered Undecided on SF 508, which is now eligible for debate before the full Senate.

Click here to comment on legalizing fireworks.

Iowa Public Agency Investment Trust HSB 504, ISAC’s objective addressing the Iowa Public Agency Investment Trust (IPAIT), passed out of the House Commerce Committee on Thursday. The bill would allow a joint investment trust like IPAIT to be operated in accordance with the requirements of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). This change is necessary because of recent changes to SEC Rule 2a-7 that will affect the way money market funds are required to value the securities in their portfolios. If IPAIT is able to be regulated by GASB it would be able to continue with the same valuation methods and types of investments as current. Click here for a more in-depth explanation of the IPAIT legislative objective. We are registered For HSB 504.

Click here to comment on IPAIT.

Update on Projects Funded by Gas Tax Increase At Wednesday’s meeting of the House Transportation Committee representatives from the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) gave an update on the additional revenue generated by the increase in the per gallon gas tax implemented last year. Following a review of state projects, DOT updated the committee on reports received from the counties and cities that detailed road and bridge projects that were made possible by the additional revenue generated by the 10 cent increase in the per gallon gas tax. Click here to view the report. To this point, 76 counties have shared information with the Iowa DOT about their projects accomplished with the increased revenue. ISAC encourages those that have not reported new projects to the DOT to do so, and we also encourage all of our counties to continue to share updates on road and bridge projects with your local legislators, communities and media.

Click here to comment on projects funded by the gas tax.

Environmental Lobby Day and REAP Day at the Capitol Join individuals and organizations from across Iowa on Tuesday, March 22 at the Iowa State Capitol to advocate for Iowa’s natural resources at Environmental Lobby Day and REAP Day at the Capitol. There is no cost to attend for individual attendees, but an RSVP is requested. Click here for a schedule, additional information for individual attendees and perspective exhibitors, and to RSVP.

Weekly Legislative Forums Most legislators conduct forums back in their home districts on Fridays and the weekends to seek constituent feedback on a variety of topics. These can be an effective tool to advance and address issues that are vital to counties. A link to these forums can be found here: http://www.iowahouserepublicans.com/forums http://iowahouse.org/events/ http://www.iowasenatedemocrats.com/events http://www.iowasenaterepublicans.com/events/

County Day at the Capitol Please plan to attend County Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, March 9. This is a free event held annually to promote the importance of county government to the public and legislators. Lunch will be served, so pre-registration is required. Click here for more information and to register. Dangerous Dog Policy Development and Rabies Regulations Educational Session The Iowa Department of Agriculture, Animal Rescue League, Iowa Department of Public Health and the Cerro Gordo Public Health Department are organizing a one-day educational session on Dangerous Dog Policy Development and Review of Rabies Regulations and Recommendations. The session will be held from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm on Monday, April 11 at the Jester Park Lodge in Granger and will be FREE for participants. Lunch will be provided at no cost. The target audience for this educational session is: law enforcement (county sheriffs and city police departments), animal control/shelters, local officials (such as county supervisors, county attorneys and city council members), local public/environmental health officials, wild life rehabilitators, nuisance wildlife control operators, veterinarians, and healthcare providers. Click here to register and for more information including an agenda.

2016 NACo Achievement Awards Now Accepting Submissions The National Association of Counties (NACo) is excited to announce that submissions are now being accepted for the 2016 Achievement Awards. All applications must be submitted and paid for by April 1, 2016, at 11:59 pm EDT. As a non-competitive awards program, each application is judged on its own merits and not against other applications received. Awards are given in 21 categories culminating with an awards luncheon at the 2016 NACo Annual Conference and Exposition in Los Angeles County, California. Click here for more information on the application process, program criteria and to apply.

Spring School Registration is Now Open Registration and hotel rooms for the ISAC Spring School of Instruction being held on March 10-11 at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown are currently available. Click here to register. Find all information on the Spring School website - http://www.iowacounties.org/meetings-and- events/spring-school-of-instruction/.

If you did not get into the Des Moines Marriott Downtown and wish to stay there, please contact [email protected] and request to be placed on the Marriott waiting list. She will contact everyone on the waiting list when rooms become available. Please make reservations at an alternate hotel prior to placing yourself on the waiting list. The waiting list does not guarantee that you will get a room at the Marriott.

Contact Information: Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) 5500 Westown Parkway, Suite 190, West Des Moines, IA 50266 Phone: 515.244.7181 Fax: 515.244.6397 www.iowacounties.org This ISAC Update is being sent to all ISAC members.