TRAER – The Traer City Council recently approved the distribution of $120,000 in local option tax funding to 11 different organizations/entities for fiscal year 2026.

Since July 1, 2003, Traer has benefitted from a 1% local option sales and services tax (LOSST) on sales and services already subject to Iowa’s 6% sales tax. At the time of implementation more than two decades ago, the city council adopted ‘community betterment’ as Traer’s use for the allocated LOSST funds (a portion remains with Tama County).

During the Monday, July 7, 2025 regular monthly meeting, the city council discussed the varying FY2026 LOSST applications received from 14 different organizations/groups totaling $166,700.

“[I]f you remember, we typically only budget $120,000 so we do have to do some cutting here,” city clerk Haley Blaine told the council to kick off the discussion. “Also keep in mind our general rule of thumb is that we give to organizations that are benefiting the community as a whole – whether that’s bringing people into town, whether that’s improving something, updating something, we try to keep it general as a whole.”

Following discussion, councilors voted unanimously (5-0) to award $120,000 to the following recipients:

-Polish Up Taylor Park Committee: $25,000

-Traer Fire Department: $25,000

-Traer Historical Museum: $20,000

-Winding Stairs Festival Committee: $15,000

-North Tama Athletics: $9,000

-Pied Piper Preschool & Childcare: $7,500

-Redhawk Youth Sports: $5,000

-Traer Chamber of Commerce: $5,000

-Traer Theatre: $5,000

-Traer Food Pantry: $2,500

-Civil War Reenactment Committee: $1,000

The Chamber of Commerce’s award was earmarked for holiday season lights as part of the town’s annual downtown celebration in early December. North Tama Athletic’s distribution was also for lights but at city-owned Dennis Field as part of Redhawk football’s move this season from Class A to 8-Player.

The fire department’s distribution will go toward a new rescue truck – reducing what the City must borrow – while the museum funding is earmarked for a new HVAC system purchase.

One of the largest distributions, $25,000 to Polish Up Taylor Park, will go toward a new open-air shelter in city park.

One of the applications that was denied was submitted by the North Tama Elementary PTO which asked for $2,500 for a K-6 field trip to the Traer Theatre to view a holiday film.

A request by North Tama for fourth-grade classroom furniture also did not receive funding.