Tax Law Blog | IRS Tax Attorneys

A fight may be brewing between supporters of a proposed Dubuque property tax hike and opponents.

A proposal presented to the Dubuque City Council earlier this month include a 2.47 percent increase for the average Dubuque homeowner, or about $27.57. Commercial and industrial property taxes are expected to increase 1.72 percent.

A factor contributing to the proposed tax hike are a state mandate requiring increased payment to the Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System.

A 1 percent increase in the utility franchise fee also is proposed. The fee hike would help offset $828,000 in spending.

David Resnick is one of two councilmen who voted against the budget guidelines. He says the city has to live within its means.

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An outside audit released Monday found numerous problems in a tax incentive program designed to encourage filmmakers to come to Iowa, but the extent of the violations is hard to tell because the bookkeeping was so sloppy.

The audit by West Des Moines accounting firm Clifton Gunderson LLP noted it found invoices and receipts for only two of the 22 projects that received tax credits.

Gov. Chet Culver called for the audit last month after learning of problems in the Iowa Film Office. Since those first reports, the director of the Economic Development Department and two other officials have lost their jobs, the internal audit was began and a separate investigation by the attorney general, state auditor and revenue department was launched.

Culver also suspended the tax credit program.

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