Iowa City council targets November ballot, no sunset and proposes 25% for housing under local option sales tax plan

Iowa City councilors on June 16 discussed ballot language, timing and draft allocations for a proposed local option sales tax (LOST) and gave staff direction to prepare materials for further review. Council members generally favored placing the measure on the November regular election, expressed reluctance to include an automatic sunset clause, and asked staff to return with refined ballot language and financial allocations.

Kirk Lehman, assistant city manager, reviewed the staff packet and noted staff had revised draft ballot language per council direction and collected suggested language from local affordable‑housing providers. Lehman said staff could meet the November schedule but that timeline required attention to election calendar deadlines and the effective date for revenues (which are typically January 1 or July 1 following certification).

Councilors debated whether to include a sunset clause. Several members said they opposed a sunset because it…