The City of Johnston will be proceeding with plans to request an election in August, 2019 to seek voter approval for the local option sales tax. The recent success of the elections in Alleman, Altoona, Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights raised confidence that Johnston should join their neighboring communities in this initiative. It appears that other area communities in Polk County (Ankeny, Clive, Grimes, and Urbandale) are planning to do the same, according the Johnston City Staff report.
The next date in which a community can conduct a special election is August 6, 2019. At their meeting on April 15, 2019, the Council approved the ballot language to be incorporated into the proposition.
Generally, the Council has proposed that at least fifty percent (50%) of the revenue from the sales tax be allocated for property tax relief, and the remainder would be applied to public safety expenditures, public infrastructure, public parks, sports and recreational facilities and trails, and public library uses.
Look for further information about the election from the City of Johnston in the near future.