SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
February 11, 2021
Sullivan’s Salvos 2/16/21
In this edition:
*RIP Louise Young
*Pitchers and Catchers Report!
*Happy Mardis Gras!
*Vaccine Information
*COVID Emergency?
*DVIP Souper Bowl
*Free Tax Help!
*Real Economic Development!
*Did You Know?
*RIP Louise Young
Johnson County lost a real original with the passing of Louise Young. I got to know Louise through Democratic Party politics in the late ‘80s through about 2012. Louise and her husband Culver were Party regulars, rarely missing a meeting.
I will be honest – Louise did not make my life easy! I served as Party Chair for 4 years, and Louise presented me with more than a few challenges. I would kvetch about it at the time, but in hindsight, I grew to understand: Louise was not there to serve me. I was there to serve her.
RIP, Louise.
*Pitchers and Catchers Report!
Baseball is beginning spring training. Spring is on the way, and a world full of new hope and possibility presents itself. I hope they mask up and act responsibly; I need baseball! Let’s play ball!
*Happy Mardis Gras!
Tuesday, February 16 is Fat Tuesday, the 17th is Ash Wednesday, and Easter is 40 days away. Sounds like a reason to celebrate! (In a COVID-safe manner, of course!) Laissez les bons temps rouler!
*Vaccine Information
This is an exact repeat of last week, but it needs to be repeated. I know everyone out there is seeking information about vaccinations. Unfortunately, we simply do not have adequate doses of vaccine to handle the demand.
If you want the very latest information, your best bet is the County website: https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov. There you will find all the information we have to share.
I know it is scary. I know it is slow. I know it is frustrating. Please be patient and know that we are doing the best we can. Thanks.
*COVID Emergency?
Governor Reynolds ended all COVID restrictions. Yet she continues to keep the many powers she reserved for herself as part of a public health emergency. Which is it? If we don’t require masks, she certainly doesn’t require additional powers!
*DVIP Souper Bowl
The Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) is gearing up for our 24th Annual “Souper Bowl.” The event will be held on Thursday, February 25th, 2021.
We hope you can join us in supporting victims/survivors! For full event details and to learn more about how you can join us virtually this year please visit: https://littlevillagetickets.com/events/109991245/24th-annual-souper-bowl-fundraiser
*Free Tax Help!
Don’t pay a fee to get your refund! The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program provides trained volunteers that will help you file your taxes. This service is available FOR FREE to people who earned less than $57,000 in 2020. E-filing is available, and interpretation services are available at many sites or by appointment.
“You Earned It. Now Claim It!”
Sites and times are available on the County website – see the Social Services Department for the complete schedule.
Spanish interpreters are available; interpreters for other languages can be scheduled by calling 356-6090.
*Real Economic Development!
This appeared in Salvos several times over the years, but it bears repeating as we approach tax season.
*What if I told you we could bring in 60 full-time jobs that would pay $15 per hour?
*What if I told you these jobs could neither be outsourced overseas nor subcontracted?
*What if I told you those jobs would be filled by hard-working low-income people, all of whom are local?
*What if I told you NO bribery (aka “tax incentives”) would be required to land these jobs?
*What if I told you there were no special workforce training programs required?
*What if I told you virtually ALL of the money earned would be spent locally?
What would happen? Well, the Iowa City Area Business Partnership would put it in their newsletter, and the Ambassadors would do a ribbon cutting. Debi Durham would come over from Des Moines and do a big press event, and the Governor just might join her. ICAD would tweet this success to the world. Mayors would grab gold shovels and pose for a photo. You might get a visit from a US Senator. The Press Citizen and Gazette would both do front page stories. The Corridor Business Journal would write a nice editorial. The region would be hailed for its forward thinking, and folks would talk far and wide about how well we do economic development.
So what if I told you the exact equivalent has already occurred? It has.
Several years ago, I went to a National Association of Counties (NACo) conference and learned about a program that had started in Cook County, Illinois.
As it turns out, a huge number of low-income workers leave money on the table when it comes to the federal income tax system, particularly the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Cook County created a series of free tax clinics to ensure this money returned to their county.
I did some investigating, and it just so happened that Johnson County had the same problem, though obviously on a much smaller scale.
So Johnson County began a free tax help program. It struck me that we had a potential partner in the Tippe College of Business, and as luck would have it, we could not have had better timing. Dr. Joyce Berg was ready to greatly expand the work her student tax preparers would do. It was a perfect fit.
Former Supervisor Sally Stutsman was very supportive. Amy Correia had just been hired as Johnson County’s first Social Services Director, and Amy took the ball and ran with it, including securing grants to cover all operating costs. The Tippe College, ICCSD, United Way, Iowa City Public Library, and many others have become valued partners. In recent years, current Social Services Director Lynette Jacoby has maintained and improved upon all this success.
What are the results? The Free Tax Help Program brings well over $1.5 million into the local economy every year. It goes to low-income local workers, who spend it locally. And it uses no local tax dollars.
Remember when I said “60 full-time jobs at $15 per hour”? That adds up to a $1.78 million annual impact, just like the Free Tax Help Program. But the Free Tax Help Program is actually even better, because it serves over 1,400 Johnson County tax filers and their families!
Economic Development can take many forms. I happen to believe the Free Tax Help program has contributed a lot of good things to the local economy. We have not had any fancy groundbreakings or ribbon cuttings, but we have accomplished something!
So if you know Lynette Jacoby, thank Lynette Jacoby. She has done great work! If you know Joyce Berg, thank Joyce Berg. Her students have given much more back to this community than they could ever take.
*DID YOU KNOW? DVIP opened in Iowa City in 1977. They now serve all of southeast Iowa.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.
If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 8:18 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home