SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
Property tax relief and healthcare are among bills being considered by Iowa lawmakers, in Des Moines.
Friday, state senators answered questions on those bills, and others, from members of the Siouxland Chamber during its breakfast meeting, in Sioux City.
This comes at the end of "funnel week".
That's a process that weeds out bills allowing lawmakers to focus on certain legislation.
"It effects people it, effects landlords, it effects downtown businesses, it effects manufacturing, so the reality of it is we need to continue to educate people that commercial property taxes does effect us all and with that kind of relief comes relief to us all," Senator Rick Bertrand said.
Another hot topic coming out of the meeting was a number, 411.
More importantly, what that number pertains to, the retirement funding of municipal police and fire workers.
Recent legislation gives support to the fund from the state, about $9.8 million according to senator Bill Anderson.
Anderson says Sioux City's share is about $635,000.
For Le Mars, it's about $36,000.
"Now long term that's a bandaid. We have to look at real reform and I do think that there are other people on the other side of the aisle that do want reform for the 411 program because we do want a sustainable system," Senator Bill Anderson said.
Senator Anderson added that having this system sustainably funded would benefit taxpayers because cities wouldn't need to levy taxes to make up for shortcomings in the fund.
