1. If the property tax valuations effective January 1, 1979, and January 1 of any subsequent year, are reduced or there is an unusually low growth rate in the property tax base of a political subdivision, the political subdivision may appeal to the state appeal board to request suspension of the statutory property tax levy limitations to continue to fund the present services provided. A political subdivision may also appeal to the state appeal board where the property tax base of the political subdivision has been reduced or there is an unusually low growth rate for any of the following reasons:

 a. Any unusual increase in population as determined by the preceding certified federal census.
 b. Natural disasters or other emergencies.
 c. Unusual problems relating to major new functions required by state law.
 d. Unusual staffing problems.
 e. Unusual need for additional funds to permit continuance of a program which provides substantial benefit to its residents.
 f. Unusual need for a new program which will provide substantial benefit to residents, if the political subdivision establishes the need and the amount of the necessary increased cost.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 24.48

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • property: includes personal and real property. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • tax: shall mean any general or special tax levied against persons, property, or business, for public purposes as provided by law, but shall not include any special assessment nor any tax certified or levied by township trustees. See Iowa Code 24.2
  • year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. The state appeal board may approve or modify the request of the political subdivision for suspension of the statutory property tax levy limitations.
 3. Upon decision of the state appeal board, the department of management shall make the necessary changes in the total budget of the political subdivision and certify the total budget to the governing body of the political subdivision and the appropriate county auditors.
 4. The city finance committee shall have officially notified any city of its approval, modification or rejection of the city’s appeal of the decision of the director of the department of management regarding a city’s request for a suspension of the statutory property tax levy limitation prior to thirty-five days before March 31.
 5. a. For purposes of this section only, “political subdivision” means a city, school district, or any other special purpose district which certifies its budget to the county auditor and derives funds from a property tax levied against taxable property situated within the political subdivision.

 b. For the purpose of this section, when the political subdivision is a city, the director of the department of management, and the city finance committee on appeal of the director’s decision, shall be the state appeal board.
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