City Officials Tout Benefits of Charles City LOSST

A special election to decide whether a one-cent local option sales and service tax continues in Charles City is less than two weeks away.

The current LOSST is set to expire after a 10-year run at the end of this year. City Administrator Steve Diers says revenues from the tax have been vital to street improvements.

If the next LOSST measure is approved on March 1st, the new tax would go into effect January 1st, 2023, but in a slightly different form. Diers says 90% of the revenue would still go to streets, with 10% going to public safety.

City officials also note that another advantage of LOSST is that visitors to town also pay the tax and help generate revenue.

Unincorporated areas of Floyd County will also be voting on a separate one-cent LOSST on March 1st. Absentee ballots for both measures can be cast in-person at the auditor’s office in the  Floyd County Courthouse during regular business hours through February 28th, with the office open until 5 p.m. on February 25th and 28th.

Polls on Tuesday, March 1st will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.