The election for the public measure for the Local Option Sales and Service Tax (LOSST) is Tuesday, September 13. LOSST is a 1% tax on certain sales and services purchased in Mason City which is allocated for several uses. Property tax relief accounts for 50% of the tax allocation, which has provided an annual property tax savings of $175.17 for a $100,000 home. Other allocations include park features, street, sidewalk, and other infrastructure maintenance and improvements (40%), and Police/Fire protection, trails, culture and recreation, airport, transit, and other amenities in the community (10%).
The benefits to keep LOSST in place include increases the quality of life by funding to amenities and services, provides more reliable infrastructure, safer neighborhoods and property tax relief lowering taxes for property owners.
To find out times and locations of polls, contact the County Auditor at 641-421-3034 or visit https://www.cerrogordoauditor.gov/elections.
What the ballot will say:
CITY OF MASON CITY PUBLIC MEASURE
Shall the following Public measure be adopted? Yes No
A local sales and services tax shall be imposed in the City of Mason City at the rate of one percent (1%) to be effective from July 1, 2023 until repealed.
Revenues from the sales and service tax are to be allocated in the City of Mason City as follows:
Fifty Percent (50%) of said revenues shall be used directly for property tax relief and for no other purpose.
The specified purposes for which the revenues shall otherwise be expended are:
Forty Percent (40%) of said revenues shall be used for street improvements such as surfacing/resurfacing, railroad crossing repair, overpass/underpass construction, bridge repair, storm sewer work, traffic signals installation and maintenance, public parking maintenance, city owned sidewalk repairs, park improvements and any other lawful use such as the retirement of debt incurred for such projects.
Ten Percent (10%) of said revenues shall be used for the General Fund for any legal city purpose such as police protection, fire protection, Library services, recreation programs/projects, airport, transit services, museum and administrative purposes.
