Sales tax goes up in Webster County today
State tax replaces local optionBy BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
Whenever someone buys a pair of shoes, a computer or a restaurant meal in Fort Dodge starting today, they'll be parting with a bit more money to support schools across Iowa.
That's because a new statewide sales tax went into effect at midnight.
That raised the sales tax rate in Webster County to 6.5 cents on the dollar.
Now the sales tax includes 5 cents to the state, 1 cent to the pool of money that will fund school building improvements all over Iowa, and a half cent to local cities.
Previously, the sales tax collected in Webster County was 6 cents on the dollar. That total included 5 cents to the state, a half cent to local schools and a half cent to the cities.
The new statewide 1 cent tax replaces the half cent once levied for schools.
''For all practical purposes that goes away and the state collects the one cent school infrastructure tax,'' said Webster County Auditor Carol Messerly.
The new state tax for schools was approved by the Iowa Legislature earlier this year and was signed into law by Gov. Chet Culver. State Rep. David Tjepkes, R-Gowrie, was a co-sponsor of the proposal.
A local option sales tax for schools had been approved in all 99 counties. Backers of the new state levy wanted it to ensure equity between urban districts flush with sales tax revenue and rural ones that are home to few stores and thus have little sales tax revenue.
In Webster County, the half cent tax for schools was to expire June 30, 2009.
Under the new system, school districts are guaranteed to receive as much as they were getting with their former local option tax, according to Victoria Daniels, legislative liaison for the Iowa Department of Revenue.
She said the Fort Dodge Community School District received $575 per pupil from its local option sales tax. The district will be assured of getting at least that much under the new system, she said.
Daniels said the district's share of the new sales tax revenue is projected to swell to $731 per pupil in 2011.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
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Brotherbag
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07-01-08 11:34 PM
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Spiffy, as usual you are 100 percent right. Fort Dodge is the laughing stock of the state, which would put it at the top of the running for the country.
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Robertwilson
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07-01-08 10:08 PM
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We need accountabilty in all the government, Federal and State. People wouldn't mind paying there fair share of taxes if They were held accountable.
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Alfred
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07-01-08 8:21 PM
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Awwww Man!!!! Is it not enough that we have to pay $4 for a gallon of gas? Come on People what are you trying to do?*****us dry!!
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Anderson
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07-01-08 6:10 PM
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Just as some favored counties and towns get to milk the rest of the state via gambling, so FD was milking the rest of Webster County and surrounding counties via the sales tax on all who had little choice but to shop there. It was the same all across Iowa, and Tjepkes was absolutely right to make the game fair. All in small towns and rural areas - his constituents - owe him one. P.S. Anyone remember when out-of-state gambling interests (i.e. mafia) tried to exercise its "option" to get majority control of Prairie Meadows? Gambling is worse than a zero sum game; its just that most Iowans - and Americans, for that matter - remain too uneducated to understand it. So, it's hardly surprising that the lottery does little for schools but cut what otherwise would be appropriated from the general fund, but without the "house's" cut, I might add.
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BonJovi
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07-01-08 4:14 PM
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Remember when they told us all of the lottery money would go to education? Maybe with all this new money they can finally get the roof to quit leaking in FDSH and Cooper.
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verbiosa
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07-01-08 10:36 AM
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We need major educational reform in this country, not more funding. The only thing that forces real change for issues like this is a lack of funds.
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Frankiethesax
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07-01-08 8:31 AM
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Democrat as gobner what did we expect. Instead of lowering government spending they just put it back on us. Culver pack your bags you are done after this term.
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