Major Property Tax Bill Introduced

A majority of Iowans support property tax relief, despite opposition from many local government officials and special interests. A recent Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation poll found that over 66% of Iowans favor a 2% cap on city and county property tax collections.

Last week, Senate Ways & Means Chair Dan Dawson and House Ways & Means Chair Bobby Kaufmann introduced a joint property tax reform measure with such a 2% cap, calling it “the biggest property tax overhaul since the 1970s.” If enacted, the bill (HSB 313 and SSB 1208) would provide an estimated $400 million in property tax relief.

A Ranking Iowa Does Not Want to Brag About

The Tax Foundation recently released their updated property tax rankings and Iowa continues to be ranked the 10th highest in the nation. This is not a ranking Iowa should be proud of, and this should motivate legislators to enact meaningful property tax reform that will not only provide tax relief but also improve our standing.

Higher Taxes Don’t Create Prosperity—They Drive It Away

Local governments are warning that limiting property tax growth will hurt communities. They say higher property taxes are necessary for economic growth. We say hardworking families and businesses grow the economy—not rapidly expanding government budgets. If families and businesses have to tighten their belts in tough times, why shouldn’t local governments? Before you buy into the doom-and-gloom about property tax limits, let’s take a closer look.