Revenue bonds do not require voter approval, and they made up 44% of total outstanding K–12 debt in 2023. Iowans are familiar with the bond votes that occur every year for local government, especially those for local school districts wanting to build new facilities or renovate existing ones. Thankfully, the Constitution of the State of Iowa places a limit on […]
The last major piece of legislation for 2024 included a technical correction to last year’s property tax law that comes with a lesson. The Iowa Legislature has recently been trying to perfect a construct that is flawed at its core: property taxes. Iowans have one of the highest property tax burdens in the country, ranking the 10th highest among states. While […]
This legislation properly reminds Iowa cities and counties of their expected role, while protecting property taxpayers from funding a flawed poverty prevention program. Taxpayers across Iowa were provided with another protection by the Iowa Legislature this week, as the House and Senate sent a bill to Governor Reynolds that bans local governments from participating in guaranteed income programs. House File […]
In March 2024, some local elections saw voter turnout as low as 1.9% but decided matters voters won’t be able to revisit for decades. Many special elections decide financial questions that directly affect property taxes and determine communities’ policies for decades to come, yet voter turnout is typically a fraction of November general elections. A recent special election held in […]
Of the 15 property tax increase proposals on ballots, 10 passed and 5 failed, resulting in over $100 million in new spending over the next decade. On March 5, 2024, voters around Iowa considered 15 property tax increases totaling $137.4 million in potential new spending over the next decade. The low level of participation showed that Iowans don’t have the […]
Iowans Deserve Predictable Taxes Wherever They ROAM Iowa shares its border with six other states, and while many Iowans live and work in the Hawkeye state, there are a number of Iowans who work elsewhere. This results in not all Iowans being taxed the same. Depending on where they live and work, the state tax liability for Iowans can vary […]
More than a dozen school districts and one county are seeking property tax hikes on top of assessments that are already elevated. The March 5, 2024, special election in 13 school districts and one county will put property tax increase questions before voters. The school districts are looking for increases in their physical plant and equipment levies (PPELs), which generate […]
Voters should pay close attention to why a district wants a Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS) and what it intends to do with the proceeds. Details A Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS) is a ballot measure describing how a school district will spend sales tax funds the State of Iowa has dedicated to public schools through a program called Secure an Advanced Vision for Education […]
Iowa’s legislature needs to know what is really going on, so they aren’t misled by the media touting “HUGE” property tax savings across the river. We can’t stress enough the dangers in using a state’s budget to pay for local expenses. Both Iowans and Nebraskans have struggled under the weight of high property taxes for many years. Despite the positive strides […]
Counties are cashing in on hefty property taxes from high assessments, and reducing rates won’t halt financial gains. You might hear your county officials complaining they are facing dire straits this year because of the new property tax law. The truth is that too many counties have been cashing in on hefty property taxes from rapidly increasing assessments, and redirecting […]
The amount of property tax you pay could go down if local governments choose to keep the levy rate the same or lower it. Many people got their new property tax assessments or valuations in the mail last fall. While the value of their home might have increased 20% or more, that does not mean your property taxes are going […]
Access to information has become a basic government service, making democracy work. Citizens need the ability to track what government does, and policymakers must produce and have access to historical records. While “good governance” is a broad and subjective term, reviewing the outcomes of public policy decisions can tell us whether it exists or not. At the local government level, […]
A new EPA rule to reduce lead in drinking water will cost utilities, ratepayers, and homeowners around $80 billion. The Biden Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new regulations requiring the removal of lead water pipes throughout the country. Lead is a known neurotoxin, and it drew national attention when it leached from pipes into the tap water of […]
This potential “solution” to economic inequality and poverty is nothing more than a wealth re-distribution tactic that places hard-working taxpayers in the crosshairs. The concept of “Guaranteed Income” or “Universal Basic Income” was introduced to many Iowans by Andrew Yang’s 2020 presidential campaign. Put forth as a potential solution to economic inequality and poverty, its proponents argue that providing a […]
A newly-proposed rule has the potential to weaponize OSHA safety inspections — without protecting worker safety — and is certain to erode trust. Who has access to a business or other organization’s premises can be a highly sensitive matter, and public policy must make a priority of fostering trust in government agents with that authority. Unfortunately, that trust has been […]
The next step for reform is to eliminate the March and September special election dates and consolidate all matters, other than those to fill immediate and urgent vacancies, on November ballots. November 7th was significant this year because it was the first election since the enactment of a wide-ranging package of property tax reforms. Among the provisions of that package […]
Iowa counties, cities, and schools put forward bond questions for the election yesterday across 50 counties, covering 75% of the state’s population and totaling a potential $1.72 billion in new spending. The decision facing taxpayers was whether or not they wanted to saddle themselves with new debt and higher property tax bills during a time of rising inflation and national […]
At a time when the economic environment is forcing families to budget for gasoline and groceries while property taxes keep climbing, school districts would do well to focus on projects directly related to the education of children. On November 7, 2023, 34 school districts will ask voters to approve bond questions totaling more than $1.2 billion across 50 counties in […]
Total FY2023 net revenue exceeded the REC’s March estimates. Iowa’s recently released revenue report for September revenue contains the final accounting for fiscal year 2023 (FY23). In early 2022, the Iowa Legislature enacted historic income tax reform reducing top rates and allowing taxpayers to keep more of their hard-earned income. The three-member Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) predicted Iowa would bring in less money in FY23 than the prior […]
75 percent of Iowans will see a bond question on their November 7th ballot. The November 7, 2023, election ballots in 50 Iowa counties will have bond questions that total $1.72 billion in potential new spending statewide. A majority of the state’s people, 75%, live in counties with bond referenda next month, and these residents face their local governments saddling […]
The State of Iowa and local governments would be wise to reduce their dependence on federal funding. The U.S. House of Representatives returned to Washington, D.C. after its summer recess and went right to work. A looming federal budget battle may result in a government shutdown, and both chambers of Congress only have a few more working days scheduled before the September […]
With exceptional valuation growth over the years, it is time to force local governments to cut back and live within their means. Property taxes are, without a doubt, the most hated tax in Iowa. Rightfully so, as the bill goes up year after year and the services Iowans receive do not equate to the increase. Iowa currently has the 10th highest property tax […]
One of the foundational arguments for creating a Local Option Sales Tax was to offset the property tax burden. However, the property tax reduction has not come to fruition for many Iowa communities, leaving citizens with a higher sales tax burden and an increasing property tax burden, too. After the property tax, local sales taxes are the most-important source of […]
Over 18,500 students in 96 counties have been approved and are taking advantage of Iowa’s “Student First” ESA program. Iowa’s lawmakers enacted the Students First Act in late-January 2023, creating universal education savings accounts (ESAs) for Iowa students. Funded with the state’s share of per pupil spending, which is currently $7,635, the ESAs will soon be available to every student […]
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