Reflecting on his early education, President Calvin Coolidge wrote that in his studies he “was attracted to civil government.” He recalled: “This was my first introduction to the Constitution of the United States. Although I was but thirteen years old, the subject interested me exceedingly. The study of it which I then began never ceased, and the more I study it, the more I have come to admire it,...
Regular attendance is one of the most important predictors of student success. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw firsthand how inconsistent attendance undermined learning, lowered test scores, and set back student achievement across the country. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of scheduled school days or instructional hours during a grading period. In an 180-day school yea...
Over six years, Iowa has climbed from 44th to 17th in the Tax Foundation’s competitiveness rankings—proof that years of conservative budgeting and tax reform have turned one of America’s least-friendly tax codes into a national model. Governor Kim Reynolds’ 3.8% flat income tax, paired with falling corporate rates and a strong Taxpayer Relief Fund, has made Iowa a regional leader for growth and i...
Iowa’s property tax crisis is fundamentally a spending challenge, not a revenue challenge. As lawmakers continue to debate reform, they should focus squarely on limiting local government budgets—including those of school districts. The key to lasting property tax relief lies not in shifting dollars around, but in spending discipline at every level of government.
In two opinion essays for Governing, Stephen Legomsky, a law professor emeritus at Washington University and author of “Reimagining the American Union,” argues that many of the nation’s political problems are a direct result of federalism. The root of those problems, he contends, lies with the states. Yet a closer reading of his essays suggests the issue runs much deeper than federalism itself. Hi...
Schools have a core mission: to educate students. In every facet of life, a mission should guide how funds are spent. In education, that means every dollar should first support teaching and learning needs. Only after those needs are met should districts fund what’s considered “extra.” Unfortunately, that prioritization may not be happening in the Atlantic Community School District (CSD). During 2...
Governor Kim Reynolds’ effort to make government more efficient took another major step forward with the release of the final report from the Iowa Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Task Force. Announced during her 2025 Condition of the State Address, the Task Force was charged with finding new ways to streamline government, modernize operations, and ultimately reduce Iowa’s property tax b...
Yet despite the high cost of borrowing, 55 bond proposals totaling more than $1.6 billion will be on the ballot for Iowa voters this November. Even more striking in this interest rate environment is that 18 local governments — 15 school districts, two counties, and one community college — are returning with repeat bond requests.
Across Iowa, local officials are asking voters to approve more than $1 billion in new bond debt this November — often with the soothing assurance that these projects “won’t raise your taxes.” But that promise deserves scrutiny. It’s like paying off your car loan, immediately financing the purchase of a new one, and insisting it doesn’t cost more — just because the monthly payment stayed the same. ...
Across Iowa, local officials are asking voters to approve more than $1 billion in new bond debt this November — often with the soothing assurance that these projects “won’t raise your taxes.” But that promise deserves scrutiny. It’s like paying off your car loan, immediately financing the purchase of a new one, and insisting it doesn’t cost more — just because the monthly payment stayed the same. ...
Taxpayers must be protected from unchecked growth in local government spending. Statewide limits on tax increases would do that while forcing local governments to live within their means. Iowa, where local governments will collect a combined $6.4 billion in property taxes this fiscal year, illustrates the potential impact of such a reform. Over the past two decades property tax collections in the ...
Property taxes remain the most pressing concern for Iowans, and that sentiment was clear during a recent roundtable discussion held at Stone Cliff Winery in Dubuque. Community members, business owners, and elected officials gathered to confront a growing frustration: rising property taxes that stretch family budgets and threaten the ability of many Iowans to remain in their homes.
Iowa has been rated as one of the most fiscally prudent states for several years running, due to sound tax and spending policies. Yet thanks in part to a recent downturn in the agricultural economy, economic growth in the state has slowed. Additionally, the state has been losing residents to other states every year since 2013, and has one of the highest outflows of young residents with bachelor’s ...
Federal Dysfunction, Local Lesson: As Washington’s government shutdown drags on, it highlights the risk of partisan gridlock — something Iowa must guard against in its own budgeting process. Budget Continuity Needed: Without clear rules, an Iowa budget impasse could threaten key services. A budget-continuation or automatic continuing resolution would ensure government operations continue smoothly...
Iowa's Taxpayer Relief Fund originated in 2011 as the Taxpayer Trust Fund, which the legislature created to capture excess revenue for the purpose of income tax relief. Lawmakers believed it would ensure surplus tax collections ended up back in the pockets of taxpayers, not used for more state-level spending. With its $3.6 billion balance, the fund is an attractive target for those who advocate f...
The federal government shutdown has now stretched into its second week, with no clear end in sight. The Senate has failed multiple times to advance temporary funding measures, and both parties continue to trade blame. While Washington’s politicians argue, states like Iowa are left dealing with the fallout. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen dysfunction in D.C., and it likely won’t be the last. ...
The assertion is often made that we live in “Alexander Hamilton’s America.” Hamilton, a co-author of The Federalist, served as Secretary of the Treasury under President George Washington and was the principal architect of that administration’s policies. As a leader of the Federalist Party, Hamilton often clashed with his Democratic-Republican critics, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, primarily ...
President Donald Trump has stirred the hornet’s nest with his preference for tariffs. The President has even described the word “tariff” as one of the most beautiful words in the English language. Perhaps more than any other policy, including immigration, President Trump’s protectionism is the most controversial. For many within the conservative movement, tariffs are a betrayal of free-market econ...
Iowa’s November 2025 city and school elections are quickly approaching, and voters will see 53 bond proposals on ballots across the state. Altogether, these measures seek approval for more than $1.5 billion in new borrowing. It’s important to remember that local governments repay debt with property taxes. While some districts claim they will “keep the rate the same,” the reality is that property ...
The federal government has officially shut down, and while the headlines focus on Washington, the real consequences are being felt here in Iowa. In Fiscal Year 2024, the State of Iowa received $13.2 billion in federal funds. Compare that to the legislature’s $9.4 billion state budget, and the picture is clear: Iowa relies heavily on Washington for many government programs. Cities collected another...