Capitol Notebook: Sixth round of destination Iowa funding headed to cities

The outside of the Iowa Capitol is seen in Des Moines on June 8, 2021. (The Gazette)

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds introduced one other spherical of Vacation spot Iowa funding, granting almost $14 million to 2 quality-of-life and tourism tasks in Iowa.

The town of Davenport was awarded $9.6 million towards three tasks, representing 40 p.c of a complete $193 million funding. The funds will go towards tasks on Primary Road Touchdown, an occasion and leisure riverfront plaza; lighting enhancements on the Davenport Skybridge; and lighting enhancements on the Figge Museum.

The town of Clear Lake netted $4.37 million to develop the Clear Lake Surf District mission. The cash will go towards the enlargement and relocation of Clear Lake’s Music Enrichment Heart, gateway and streetscape enhancements round and on Buddy Holly Place, and waterfront connections from the Surf Ballroom to the lake. The funding is 40 p.c of the mission’s $35.2 million whole value.

The grants are the sixth spherical of funding from Vacation spot Iowa, a program dedicated to attracting tourism and new residents to Iowa utilizing funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Income division offers steering on retirement tax exemption

The Iowa Division of Income launched new steering on retirement earnings tax exemption that was handed into legislation earlier this 12 months.

The change was paired with different earnings tax cuts in a sweeping package deal that goals for a 3.9 p.c flat private earnings tax by 2026.

In accordance with the income division, Iowans should meet certainly one of three necessities to be eligible for the exemption of tax on retirement earnings:

• 55 years of age or older on Dec. 31 of the tax 12 months

• Disabled

• A surviving partner or a survivor of an individual who has certified for the exclusion within the tax 12 months

Earnings that qualifies for the exclusion contains authorities and different pension plans, particular person retirement accounts, and different kinds of financial savings plans. The division mentioned it was drafting extra administrative guidelines to elucidate which plans qualify. Plans that qualify embody:

• Distributions from particular person retirement plans licensed below part 408 of the Inner Income Code

• Distributions from a simplified worker pension plan

• Distributions from a financial savings incentive match plan for workers retirement plan

• Distributions from a Keogh plan

• Distributions from certified pension plans together with IPERS

• Roth conversion earnings

• Distributions from certified deferred compensation plans ruled by the Worker Retirement Earnings Securities Act together with a 401(ok), 403(b), and 457(b) plan;

• Annuity distributions pursuant to IRC part 402(a)

• Distributions from an Worker Inventory Possession Plan as outlined in part 4975(e)(7) of the IRC

Iowa Home and Senate Republicans fill management posts

Iowa Home and Senate Republicans introduced new assistant leaders and different prime positions for his or her chambers on Monday.

Within the Home, Republican Reps. Jon Dunwell of Newton and Brent Siegrist of Council Bluffs, and Reps.-elect Craig Johnson of Independence and David Younger of Van Meter had been elected to be assistant majority leaders.

Home Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford and Majority Chief Matt Windschitl of Missouri Valley, each Republicans, had been re-elected to their posts final month.

Within the Senate, Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, was re-elected president professional tempore and Waylon Brown, R-Osage, was elected majority whip. Republican Sens. Chris Cournoyer of LeClaire, Carrie Koelker of Dyersville, Mike Klimesh of Spillville, and Jeff Reichman of Montrose had been elected assistant majority leaders.

In an election final month, Sen. Jack Whitver of Grimes was re-elected as Senate majority chief and Sen. Amy Sinclair of Allerton was elected Senate president.

Auditor warns of cellphone rip-off

Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand warned Iowans on Monday of a possible cellphone rip-off through which a caller impersonates the Iowa State Auditor’s Workplace.

In a information launch, Sand’s workplace mentioned an individual notified the workplace on Nov. 30 a couple of cellphone name inquiring about their mortgage, saying the caller knew the individual’s title, handle and peak.

“The Auditor of State Workplace won’t ever name you to inquire about your mortgage or private funds,” mentioned Sand. “We’ve alerted the Iowa Legal professional Basic, Shopper Safety Division.”

Reynolds appoints district decide

Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed Elizabeth Batey as a district affiliate decide in Judicial Election District 2A, she introduced Friday.

Batey is a Justice of the Peace for Butler County and practices legislation with the Vickers Regulation Workplace in Greene, Iowa.