The Students First Act creates a universal ESA that will be funded with the state’s share of funding per pupil, which is currently $7,598. This is a victory for families across Iowa.
Taxpayer-Funds Used Against Own Interests
Taxpayer-funded lobbying occurs when political subdivisions, such as counties, cities, and school districts, pay lobbyists with money they have received, one way or another, from the people. In a state with the 10th highest property taxes in the nation, this is not a good use of taxpayer dollars. Often these lobbying efforts are in direct opposition to voters’ interests, as lobbyists paid from property taxes are fighting against policies that Iowans want.
Reducing the Regulatory Burden for Iowa
Many regulations are counterproductive, short-circuiting legitimate economic activity. Pairing regulatory reform with pro-growth tax reform and intelligent spending, Iowa’s economy will continue to grow stronger and more competitive.
What Power Do Local Governments Have?
Plenty of state statutes mandate that local governments provide core government services. On the other hand, legislators have left local governments free to offer (or to eliminate) plenty of non-core services that drive up property taxes, such as economic development programs and aquatic centers. No one should worry that limiting property tax increases is going to defund police departments, fire departments, or ambulance drivers. Local governments don’t have the power to do that.
Reynolds Champions Conservative Policies
During Governor Kim Reynolds’s sixth Condition of the State address, she outlined a conservative policy agenda focused on providing greater educational opportunities for children and removing burdensome regulations that punish taxpayers and businesses across the state.
Five Surprising Facts About Microschooling
With the Students First Act becoming law, parents now have even more financial flexibility to find the school that best fits the needs of their child. Many families may consider alternatives to traditional public schools, including microschools. The microschools that have sprouted in recent years span a wide variety of educational philosophies and approaches, from structured “classical” models to unstructured “unschooling” models, and everything in between.
Solving Iowa’s Property Tax Problem
Did you miss it?! ITR Foundation created a toolkit to deliver a concise and easily digestible public policy guide for state and local officials who are interested in property tax reform. Check it out.
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