A total of four public ballot measures — including the reauthorization of the city of Marshalltown’s one percent Local Option Sales and Service Tax (LOSST) and the reauthorization of the Marshalltown Community School District’s Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) — passed with overwhelming majorities at the polls on Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Marshall County Auditor/Recorder’s Office.

The city’s LOSST measure passed with 1,164 votes (71.5 percent) in favor and 465 votes (28.5 percent) opposed. The new formula, effective July 1, 2025, will allocate 75 percent of the funds for property tax relief and 25 percent for any lawful council designated use with no sunset date in place, a modification from the current formula of 78 percent property tax relief and 22 percent council designated uses.

Mayor and Acting City Administrator Joel Greer was happy with the result and gave credit to city staff members — specifically Police Chief Mike Tupper — for their roles in helping the public make an informed decision and leading events at the library.

“We’re really pleased for the landowners, the landlords (and) the tenants that are paying property taxes because it really would’ve cost us that pay property taxes a lot of money compared to the one cent sales tax that people from out of town pay too,” Greer said. “I’m really pleased that the people that showed up voted the right way, and I’m still disappointed that so few people showed up.”

Both Greer and First Ward Councilor/Mayor Pro Tem Mike Ladehoff weighed in on the narrative that the council has spent money irresponsibly, especially after the failed franchise fee vote in September and the results of the November council election.

“I’m really happy people got the information, read it (and) understood what it meant for the city. I think Marshalltown is moving forward. We’re doing great, and this does nothing but help us in our planning and our future, how we’re going to be doing things, and it also shows confidence in the city council. And that, I truly appreciate,” Ladehoff said. “I think sometimes, too much weight is given to unelected people with no accountability for what happens at city council and the city as a whole, and that’s kind of sad… An informed electorate is a good one.”

Greer also pointed to positive momentum building and future developments on the horizon as evidence that the citizens of Marshalltown believe in the community’s future.

“I’m really excited about it,” he said.

Marshalltown Community School District Superintendent Theron Schutte was equally excited about the outcome of the PPEL vote as 1,184 (68.9 percent) of those who cast a ballot supported the 10-year reauthorization and 534 (31.1 percent) opposed it.

Those funds are used to pay for facilities improvements, technology, safety and security, and transportation. With the district’s financial position, they were able to double the levy from $0.67 to $1.34 per $1,000 of valuation for the next 10 years without raising the overall tax asking, and Schutte said the current levy rate was generating between $7 and $8 million over the 10-year period. Therefore, on July 1, 2025, that number will double.

“I’m obviously elated about the result and the support of the entire school community for that. I’m very excited for what the future holds for continued improvements with our district facilities and future projects,” Schutte said.

District leadership is currently gearing up for a potential November bond issue for improvements at the almost 100-year-old Miller Middle School building, and while that remains a separate matter, Schutte said the PPEL renewal will better position the district to maintain its other facilities. And, like the aforementioned city leaders, he appreciated the public’s vote of confidence in the way district leaders and the school board are spending taxpayer dollars, citing a number of projects during his tenure as superintendent from the Roundhouse renovation all the way up to the recent football stadium and track improvements.

“These have been large, but smaller scale projects that we can kind of chip away at with the available sales tax capacity that we can bond against, and as other bonds that had previously been taken out in the early 2000s were starting to retire,” Schutte said. “Now we’ll be really well positioned to do more quicker with the PPEL dollars to take care of our existing facilities while also really focusing on what the most immediate future need is on a large scale for our facilities. And most unquestionably (that) would be Miller with it turning 100 next year.”

Most of all, the Marshalltown native who returned to lead his hometown school district in 2016 felt the results sent a clear message.

“The community of Marshalltown has spoken out in a strong way for support for us to continue to move forward in taking care of what we have and also taking steps toward progress in terms of new amenities and infrastructure for the future too,” Schutte said.

Voters in the East Marshall Community School District reauthorized their PPEL for another 10 years at a rate of $0.67 per $1,000 of valuation by an even wider margin with 183 (88.4 percent) in favor and just 24 (11.6 percent) opposed. Superintendent Tony Ryan called the results “a positive shot in the arm” and said residents of the district were overwhelmingly positive throughout the process.

“We have good things going on right now with our PPEL, and our intent of the reauthorization of the PPEL is to continue those good things with equipment replacement, school bus replacement (and) technology purchases for our students and staff,” Ryan said. “Again, the community has treated us very well over the years, and this just goes to show the support that our patrons have for the East Marshall district.”

Voters in the city of Laurel approved the imposition of a one percent LOSST “until repealed by a ballot vote of the qualified electors” with 50 percent going to street and alley maintenance and 50 percent to the general fund for any lawful purpose. There were 21 votes in favor of the measure and just two opposed.

Outside of Marshall County, voters in the South Tama County Community School District, one of just 49 in the state without a voter approved PPEL, resoundingly rejected reinstating it at a rate of $1 per $1,000 of valuation. A total of 536 voters (59.3 percent) opposed the measure while just 368 supported it.

——

Contact Robert Maharry

at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.