T-R FILE PHOTO The Marshalltown Municipal Band, performing at West End Park in 2021, faces a possible loss of $9,000 due to the passage of House File 718 by the Iowa Legislature. Besides frequent West End performances, the band plays for the Memorial Day Program and for special community events.

The Marshalltown Public Library is not the only community entity facing potential budget cuts due to House File 718 (HF718).

Passed by the Iowa Legislature earlier this year, the bill is a $100 million property tax cut and could create a $9,000 financial loss for the Marshalltown Municipal Band. Director Brett Umthun said the amount is a huge portion of the band’s annual budget and added that the money will be transferred to the City of Marshalltown general fund.

“The city will have control,” he said. “The money could be cut. Maybe the city will decide other organizations are the priorities.”

There is a possibility the overall future of the Marshalltown Municipal Band could be in jeopardy if no future funding can be found.

“If the city does not fund us, I think we might have enough community support to get sponsorships, but that has challenges,” Umthun said. “I’ve been talking about it with people, and they are already burdened (by) supporting other [nonprofit] organizations.”

Just like the situation with the library, the band money was previously approved by Marshalltown voters. Levies for community bands in Iowa have a history dating back more than 100 years. In 1921, the Iowa Legislature passed the Iowa Band Law, which allowed communities with less than 40,000 citizens to levy a property tax for municipal bands.

As a result of the Marshalltown vote, the band has been able to buy and maintain equipment, purchase new music, cover insurance and provide performances.

One of the more popular annual band performances — held since 1930 — is the Memorial Day Program, which is in partnership with the American Legion. The band also performs for special occasions, such as the rededication of the Marshall County Courthouse in December last year.

“We have eight or nine concerts in the summer,” Umthun said.

On average, he said the band attracts 40 to 50 residents to each performance, especially when playing at West End Park.

“Those people then support 13th Street District businesses, like the Flying Elbow,” Umthun said.

Beyond the physical effects, Umthun thinks the possible cut will affect morale.

“It will hurt the overall attitude and culture of the ensemble,” he said.

Since Umthun became the municipal band director in 2014, the number of band members has grown substantially, particularly in the last couple of years. To ensure they provide quality performances, band members meet each week on Tuesday and rehearse for two hours.

“People have conversations, reach out to others to bring them to hear us,” he said. “Then people check their closets and see if there is an instrument not being used. It is a great way to stay involved with your instrument. Our members work in all sorts of fields, and they all play music together.”

Having funding for the band extends beyond the morale, entertainment and history. Umthun said supporting the band, and all arts, is important to sustain and grow each new generation.

“People find enjoyment in listening to our music, playing their instruments and bringing in guest artists, which we are able to do with our current funding and the connection to our community,” he said. “Right now, a lot of eggs are in one basket, and a lot of things need funding. I have no inside ear in the city council to know their leanings. It is definitely a possibility we will lose our funding.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.