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Municipal Revenue & Taxation <br />effects of these facilities and activities on host communities. Metro Cities would prefer that <br />municipalities be allowed to collect a host fee that may be adjusted when state decisions affect <br />those fees. <br />1-OSalesTaxonLocalGovernmentPurchases <br />Metro Citiessupportedthe2013reinstatementofthesalestax exemptionforpurchasesof <br />goods and services made by cities. This reinstatement does not apply to all local government <br />purchases. <br />Toensurecitizensreceivethefullbenefit ofthisexemption,thelawshould treat purchasesofall <br />local government units the same, including purchases made by special taxing districts, joint <br />powersentities,oranyotheragencyorinstrumentalityoflocalgovernment. <br />Metro Citiessupportssimplifyingtheprocessontheexemptionforconstructionmaterials <br />thatiscomplex andcostineffectiveor convertingtheprocesstoa refundprogram.Metro <br />Cities supportedthe law enacted in 2021that exempts construction materials purchased to <br />construct public safety facilitiesfrom state sales tax. <br />MetroCitiessupportsgrantinganextension ofthemotorvehiclesalestax exemptionto all <br />municipal vehicles that are used for general city functions and are provided by <br />governmental entities. Currently, only certain vehicles, including road maintenance vehicles <br />purchased by townships, and municipal fire trucks and police vehicles not registered for use on <br />public roads,areexemptfromtheMVST. <br />1-PCityRevenueStabilityandFundBalance <br />Metro Cities opposes state attempts to control or restrict city fund balances, or to use city <br />fund balances as a rationale for reducing state aids or property tax payment delays. These <br />funds are necessary to maintain fiscal viability, meet unexpected or emergency resource needs, <br />purchase capital goods and infrastructure, provide adequate cash flow and maintain high level <br />bondratings. <br />1-QPublicEmployees Ó RetirementAssociation(PERA) <br />Metro Cities supports employees and cities sharing equally in the cost of necessary <br />contribution increases and a sixty percent employer/forty percent employee split for the <br />PERA Police and Fire Plan. Metro Cities also supports state assistance to local <br />governmentsto coverany additionalcontribution burdensplacedon citiesoverandabove <br />contribution increases required by employees. Cities should receive sufficient notice of these <br />increasessothatthey may take themintoaccountforbudgetingpurposes. <br />Metro Cities opposes benefit improvements for active employees or retirees until the <br />financialhealthofthePERAGeneralPlanandPERA PoliceandFirePlanarerestored. <br />Metro Cities supports modifications to help align PERA contributions and costs, and <br />2022 Legislative Policies <br />7 <br /> <br />