Jeff Schneider – Marshalltown, Iowa City Council – At Large

Jeff’s Views

I am fiscally conservative. Local government is completely different than state or federal government. It is where the rubber hits the road metaphorically. The things local government spends time and money on are the things that really affect your life. I have no intention of wasting any of Marshalltown’s money, I realize that government has no money of its own and that it belongs to the taxpayers. I am OK with the city spending money wisely and strategically on high-value projects to make Marshalltown a better place to live and do business in. I think the right kind of spending attracts private investment many times multiplied and that is the real driver of growth and quality of life in our city.

Solutions Instead of Complaining

In my personal and professional life, I try to never complain about something unless I have a solution to solve my complaint. I live this by being involved in civic organizations (see below). My wife and I donate money to causes we believe in and help make things we care about better. At work, if there is a problem, I work to solve it at the core for the long-term, not just cover up the symptoms.

Economic Development

Remove Friction!

We need to make it as easy as possible for businesses to start operations in Marshalltown. We need turnkey industrial park locations. We need to remove barriers to entry for downtown renovations. We need areas for quality residential development or re-development.

Markets are dynamic. Businesses look at many locations when deciding where to operate. Marshalltown needs to make sure we are as competitive as we can be with land, roads, water/sewer, power, internet, and speed of getting returns on investments in Marshalltown. Other cities competing against us are doing those things, so we must. And we can win!

TIF (tax increment financing) is a Good Tool

TIF is a tool the city must use to make development possible, and it is a no-brainer when used properly. TIF is complex to understand at first, but it can be used to make win-win situations that will result in development that would not otherwise happen. TIF locks an area’s taxable value at a certain level for so many years. As that area is improved and its property value increases, the additional tax collected above the base valuation goes towards paying down obligations the city assumed for the development to happen. When the obligation is paid and the TIF period is over, all taxes paid on the property go into the city’s general fund and into the other taxing entities (schools, county, etc.). They remain there for spending needs or tax relief as long as the valuation holds. For these reasons TIF produces a financial asset for the all taxing entities.

Infrastructure installation (roads/sewer) can be paid for with TIF; making new development feasible, and the property owner still pays the bill in the end! The city assumes little or no risk, borrows very cheaply, and acquires a revenue generating asset for the long-term. This tool can be used for downtown renovations, residential developments, residential re-developments, and industrial parks.

Put simply, if you had an asset generating tool like TIF at your disposal in your personal investments, you would use it.

Is our current debt a big issue for Marshalltown? No. And not with an effective growth agenda and the possibilities for growth we have.

Infrastructure

The best time to plant a tree is 25 years ago or today. We only have today.

Of course our existing infrastructure needs repaired–most all of the United States has old public infrastructure. Prior councils deferred this cost far too long, now is not the time for austerity–as other candidates for city council are advocating. The city has a timeframe much longer than that of an individual. Decision making can be on a timeframe of 70 or 100 years. We need to make the right long-term decisions and stop kicking the can down the road. Let’s keep our good roads in good shape by maintenance, and replace deteriorated roads as we can. Many roads and sidewalks need repair. We will have a lot of debt obligation that will be retired in the next few years.

Quality of Life

Expectations for quality of life are much higher than they were a generation ago. People want clean, beautiful, safe, and easily accessible places to work, eat, exercise, and play.

We are limited by our geography about the natural things we have. We can’t build a mountain or an ocean, but there are things we can do with what we have.

I’m about solutions, not complaining. I am President of TRAILS Inc. Our main project is building the Iowa River’s Edge Trail from Marshalltown to Steamboat Rock. It is a scenic, 34-mile-long rails-to-trails project. Trails are not just for bike riders! Anecdotally, I think more walkers use our in-town trails than bikers. Trails are good for physical and mental health. They are also a tool for safe commuting for adults and children. Trails connect people to places both physically and emotionally.

With my work on TRAILS Inc and within the city, we linked some amenities directly to the Linn Creek and Iowa River’s Edge trails and I’m most excited about how close we are to–at least–getting a trail to Albion, and possibly soon connected all the way to Steamboat rock, we have received millions in grant dollars and in private contributions over the past 4 years because of my leadership.

If you go to any town with good trails and connected long trails you will find vibrancy: nice restaurants, breweries, public art, bed-and-breakfasts, nice homes, and new businesses. People like to be close to trails and the opportunities they provide. It becomes a part of the community’s culture and they can be enjoyed by everyone.

Our city needs to be a strong advocate for our trails. We need more rec trail interconnection in our city. We need to connect to schools, living areas, businesses, and amenities. The true wealth trails provide is unlocked with connections.

I think we have opportunities for water recreation development on Linn Creek and the Iowa River. They are the reason Marshalltown is located here, and I think they can play a role in the future in Marshalltown.

I believe ordinances must be enforced, but I think every individual can make the biggest differences themselves by keeping up their own properties, helping neighbors who need help, and just picking up trash they come across. If you don’t, who will? That’s why I’m involved with CLEANIAC here in town to do city-wide cleanups in the Spring and educate school-aged children about keeping our city clean.