City of Marion, IA Home Employment Council Meeting Contact Us Search Services About Us Recreation Government How Do I? Why Marion? Awards & Designations State of the City LOST Ballot Issue COVID-19 Response + Be Well Marion History of the City What's New Mayor & City Council + Boards & Commissions Municipal Code Public Notices City Maps In the Works Documents and Reports News List Calendar Site Map About Us Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Ballot Issue Print Share & Bookmark Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option Font Size: + - On Nov. 2, 2021, Marion residents and the metro area will vote on whether or not to extend the local option sales tax (LOST) for 10 years. In this vote, the contiguous cities in the Cedar Rapids metro area will vote as one. In Marion, the ballot language states that 70 percent of the funds will go toward street and sewer construction, reconstruction, repair and improvements and the other 30 percent will be used for community projects consisting of any general or essential corporate purpose. Marion as a community will be a net beneficiary of the tax, if passed. The city would receive an estimated $6.4 million in the first year. Over the life of the tax, an estimated $70 million would be returned to the community. Marion has used the current tax to support community improvement projects like the new fire station, YMCA and library in addition to enhancements to our parks and trails and replacement of fire equipment. In addition, the City has invested in improvements to major and arterial roads, neighborhood streets, regional stormwater detention and the sanitary sewer system. Using LOST proceeds for infrastructure projects keeps the debt service levy down. This is an indirect form of property tax relief. It allows the City to pay cash for projects rather than borrowing. Proposed infrastructure projects to be funded by local option sales tax include improvements to neighborhood streets, sidewalks and sanitary sewer, broadband infrastructure, 11th Street realignment, 10th Street/Echo Hill Road connection and Tower Terrace Road construction. Proposed community improvement projects include the expansion of recreational aquatics opportunities, the second phase of Prospect Meadows, a fourth fire station and fire station equipment replacement, second phase of Prairie Hill Park and other park facility improvements. The funds would help accomplish infrastructure projects in 10 years that would otherwise take 24-26 years. Pass or fail? State law requires cities in a metro area with touching borders to vote as a block on sales-tax measures. The total vote in the bock of cities determines the vote outcome. Because of that, there are four potential outcomes. If it passes in Marion and passes metro-wide, the tax is collected in Marion and Marion gets a share. Current and future councils are bound by the ballot language requiring 70 percent of the funds to be use on roads and 30 percent to be used on community projects. If it passes in Marion and fails metro-wide; the tax would end at the current sunset date in 2024. If it fails in Marion but passes metro-wide; the tax is collected metro-wide (including Marion), and Marion gets its normal share. If it fails in Marion and fails metro-wide, the tax would end at the current sunset date in 2024. Election Information The next City election is Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voter registration forms and absentee ballot request forms must be submitted to Linn County Election Services by Oct. 18, 2021. Current council seats that will be on the ballot are Council At-Large, Council At-Large to fill a vacancy, Ward 2 and Ward 4. There will also be four public measures on the ballot including the renewal of the 1% local option sales tax collection, a change to the number of members on the Library Board, a change to the length of the term for members of the Library Board, and a measure to reauthorize gambling in Linn County. For more information, please contact the City Clerk by email or phone 319-743-6301. How have the LOST funds been used? STREETS COMMUNITY PROJECTS OTHER 10th Street reconstruction 12th Street Blairs Ferry Road Clark Avenue 26th Street East Robins Road turn lane S. 11th Street 13th Street (8th-10th Avenues) 29th Avenue widening 35th Street reconstruction Irish Drive extension Lucore Road reconstruction Winslow Road reconstruction 10th Street/10th Avenue intersection McGowan Boulevard Alburnett Road extension Armar Drive extension Central Corridor Project 14th Street reconstruction 3rd Avenue rehabilitation A Avenue reconstruction 3rd Avenue reconstruction Tower Terrace Road 7th Avenue Streetscape Asphalt Overlay Projects YMCA & Community Rec Center Thomas Park Maintenance Building Aerial Truck Fire Pumper SCBA Systems Fire Station Headquarters Library Prospect Meadows PARKS Lowe Amphitheater & Greenhouse Butterfield Parking Lot Lininger Playset & Pavilion Thomas Park Playset & Splash Pad Waldo’s Rock Park Butterfield Skate Park Willowood Pool Improvements Lowe Park Development TRAILS Boyson Trail Paving CeMar Trail & Railroad Bridge Lindale Trail Boyson Road Trail Lighting Donnelly Park Trail Bridge Indian Creek Trunk Sewer Arts Master Plan Community-wide WiFi Marion CAN Signage MLIA Holiday Decorations Surveillance System Citywide Design Standards Retail Study Hotel Market Study Fire Department Deployment Study Sanitary Sewer Capacity Study Housing Study Aquatics Center Feasibility Study KEEP IN TOUCH NEED HELP? 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