Even with the extensive reforms as of late and the elimination of the county health levy, property taxes still remain a top concern of taxpayers with much work left to be done. In 2013, the legislature enacted a comprehensive property tax reform measure directed at providing commercial property tax relief. Some of the major reforms of the legislation included: […]
The turkey industry in Iowa employs or supports over 38,000 total jobs and is responsible for as much as $10.64 billion in total economic activity throughout the state. Iowa has a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. Our governor and legislature enacted the largest tax reform in state history, state revenue continues to exceed projections, the state […]
Iowa’s property tax was first enacted in 1839. Although it has undergone several changes over the years, it continues to be a substantial burden to taxpayers across the state. Iowa’s property tax has had a tumultuous history. Iowa’s territorial legislature enacted the first revenue act in 1839, creating a tax levy on real and personal property. This form of […]
The midterm elections are over, so now the question is: Who will be the Democratic and Republican nominees for President in 2024? Americans will sort that out over the next 18 months. Assuming Joe Biden either declines to run again or is challenged in his own party, two sets of major-party candidates will work in the states to win their party’s nomination. The state-by-state nature of the contest is thanks to the Electoral College, even though the party nominating processes are different from the presidential election process.
The Assessor is NOT to Blame We’ve all heard it around our communities: “Watch out: the assessor is coming around, which means property taxes are going up!” or “Don’t let them near your home, or they will increase the value and make your taxes go up!” Don’t miss who is truly in charge of your property taxes. When county board, […]
Don’t miss who is truly in charge of your property taxes. When county board, city council, and school board members increase spending, taxes go up; when their spending decreases, taxes go down. It’s as simple as that. We’ve all heard it around our communities: “Watch out: the assessor is coming around, which means property taxes are going up!” or “Don’t […]
Iowa’s tax climate is improving, and more work is needed to lower income and property taxes, but our state has made substantial progress. Once Iowa’s tax reform is fully implemented, it is estimated that Iowa will have the 13th-best tax ranking in the nation. The Tax Foundation has released the 2023 State Business Tax Climate Index, which ranks the states […]
Even with continued inflation, a national recession, and a workforce shortage, the state’s net General Fund revenue for the month was $198.6 million (32.7%) above October 2021. Iowa’s revenue report for October has been released and the news for the month continues to depict a positive fiscal situation heading into the holiday season. Even under the weight of continued inflation, […]
President Biden’s claim of lowering our everyday costs doesn’t hold up when measured against prices at the pump; a gallon of gas now costs nearly 80% more than it did two years ago. President Joe Biden took the stage at a recent Democratic National Committee Event to proclaim “Democrats are lowering your everyday costs like prescription drugs, healthcare premiums, energy bills, and gas […]
The most recent Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation Poll, conducted by Cygnal, shows support for conservative candidates and incumbents remains strong, while the economy continues to be top of mind for Iowa voters. (Complete poll results and analysis are available for download below) Governor Reynolds has maintained her lead (+19.0%), over Democrat nominee Deidre DeJear as Senator Chuck Grassley continues […]
Revenue Projections Erase Majority of Tax Reform Cost The State Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) met in October to evaluate the current and next fiscal years, FY23 and FY24. Compared with its previous forecast in March, the REC increased net General Fund revenue by nearly $400 million for the current fiscal year. Even in the face of inflation and a workforce […]
Continued strong revenue collections are evidence that tax cuts were justified in the state of Iowa; without them, the state government would have withdrawn more from the economy than necessary to support its services. The State Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) met in October to evaluate the current and next fiscal years, FY23 and FY24. Compared with its previous forecast in […]
Don’t let these changes fool you. Nobody should believe that the pain of inflation is going to be erased by these IRS adjustments. The federal government’s tax collecting agency released their annual inflation adjustments this month, proving that even the IRS is not immune to inflation. These updates are an attempt to keep inflation from leading to a de facto […]
A majority of Iowans (57.9 percent) oppose the cancellation of student debt, while 32.5 percent support President Biden’s plan. There were mixed emotions in August when President Joe Biden announced his student loan forgiveness plan. This plan forgives up to $10,000 in federal student loans and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients. Private loan holders are not included in […]
Taxpayers in Iowa have had enough of out-of-control property taxes, and they’re looking for solutions. Responsibility for property tax increases does not fall on the assessors but rather local government spending. In a recent ITR Foundation poll, conducted by Cygnal, Iowans were asked whether they supported or were opposed to the State Legislature setting limits on how much a local […]
Support for a constitutional amendment protecting the right to bear arms has grown to 62.2 percent, with only 31.6 percent opposing. In February, ITR Foundation polled Iowans on whether they would support a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November to protect their right to bear arms. There was overwhelming support at that time, as 58.9 percent of those polled […]
Increasing an existing tax or creating new ones rarely provides tax relief. The government tends to benefit more than the taxpayer. When cities sent local option sales tax (LOST) increases to the ballot, they told residents half of the new revenue would be directed toward property tax relief. To the contrary, as one frustrated Iowan in the Des Moines metro […]
The Cato Institute has released their 2022 Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors. Iowa’s Kim Reynolds was not only one of just five governors who received an A grade from Cato, but this data driven report calculated her score as the highest in the nation! Since 2008, this report has graded the fiscal policies of our nation’s governors from […]
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds was not only one of just five governors who received an “A” grade, but her score was the highest in the nation! The Cato Institute has released its 2022 Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors. Iowa’s Kim Reynolds was not only one of just five governors who received an A grade from Cato, but this […]
Gov. Reynolds Widens Lead; Iowans Support Conservative Candidates and Policies ITR Foundation’s new poll, conducted by Cygnal, shows Governor Kim Reynolds is growing more popular, while President Joe Biden remains unpopular. Iowans support a wide range of conservative candidates and policy measures, including spending limits on local governments to control property taxes. Highlights: ITR Foundation President Chris Ingstad said, “It’s […]
People are angry, frustrated, and worried about where our economy is going. At the state level, Iowa is reducing taxes and reducing spending to combat the bad decisions made in Washington D.C. Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver is our guest on this episode of ITR Live. As Majority Leader, Whitver leads the Senate Republican caucus, not just through […]
The latest poll shows tremendous support for conservative candidates up and down the ballot. The Generic Ballot tested at +17 for the GOP, indicating the strongest political environment for Republicans in generations. Nobody would ever mistake any of the ITR staff for Creedence Clearwater Revival on karaoke night, but just as CCR saw a bad moon rising, we see […]