Politics
Centrum Sets Five Percent Signature Threshold for Ballot Measures, Matching Most Regional Cities
The rule requires petition organizers to collect 12,500 valid signatures from registered voters before any citizen-initiated referendum on topics such as local tax rates can reach the November ballot.
How we reported this
The Municipal Referendum Ordinance, adopted by the Centrum City Council on June 15, establishes a five percent signature requirement for ballot measures. This threshold applies to all citizen-initiated proposals on property taxes, zoning adjustments and public service funding.
The ordinance takes effect for the November 3 election cycle. It replaces earlier rules that left signature counts to case-by-case council votes. Policy analysts point to the change as an effort to create uniform procedures across the metropolitan area, where neighboring municipalities already use percentages between four and six percent of registered voters.
Daily Effects for Centrum Households
Residents who want to place a measure on the ballot must now gather 12,500 signatures from the city’s 250,000 registered voters. A group seeking to limit annual property tax growth, for example, would need to verify each signature against voter rolls at the elections office. In comparison, the same proposal in the adjacent city of Eldridge requires 10,000 signatures under its four percent rule.
City budget documents show 150,000 dollars allocated in the 2026 fiscal year for printing and mailing referendum guides to every registered household. The guides will list filing deadlines, signature rules and sample petition language. Local advocates note that the higher bar may extend the time needed to qualify measures on issues such as transit route changes.
Remaining Deadlines and Verification Process
Petitions must be filed by August 15. The elections office will complete signature checks within 30 days and publish results on the city website. The government says the policy will reduce disputes over qualification standards that occurred in prior election cycles.
Residents can review the full ordinance and download petition forms at the city clerk’s office on Main Street or through the municipal portal. No further council action is required before the November ballot is finalized.