Hello, my name is Darren Jackson.
I was asked by some why I am running for reelection to the Jefferson City Council. This letter is in response to that inquiry.
I have proudly served on the council for several years and have been happy to have been a part of Jefferson’s success.I want to continue to be a part of Jefferson’s growth and vitality. This community is continuing to get better, especially through its many volunteers and volunteer opportunities.
One of the top concerns of the city has been housing. This has been the top or near the top of every priority survey we have done. Many of the new apartments and duplexes are rented even before they are finished being built. Quality single apartments may be attractive to elderly people who want to downsize and thus free up existing homes for families.
Some of the committees I serve on have moved forward on the stalled animal shelter, modernized the records at the cemetery, kept the buildings in the downtown square inhabitable, and are moving forward on the rec center and library projects.
We have been blessed with hiring some excellent people in their field. Our city administration and city employees are dedicated people to be relied on and are responsive to questions.
Recently property taxes have gone up. A lot. I was shocked at my mortgage increase as well. Property values have increased and many were not assessed during COVID. Jefferson is not unique in this situation. However, according to Iowans for Tax Relief, “Taxes (in the city of Jefferson) are growing 12.4 percent slower than the combined growth of population and inflation. This is reasonable,” and also better than the state average which the ITR rates as “unreasonable.”
Cities, counties, and schools do not set property taxes, but, of course, we use them. I think with how we are paying our police, encouraging business, and maintaining our city, we are “reasonably” using taxes as the ITR reports.
Some say Jefferson’s best days are behind her, that we should apparently focus on “closing up shop” and perhaps only invest in plywood for the windows downtown. However, I think most people in Jefferson see our present as bright and our future as only brighter. These people show their optimism through their volunteerism and investments (and hopefully their votes.) Because really either side can be right: our Jefferson future is what we make it.
