Local governments have a tax and spend mentality. For long-lasting property tax relief to occur, the state legislature must focus on reining in overall spending rather than reconfiguring how spending is done. Conversations about property taxes frequently focus on one of the major taxing bodies: cities, counties, or school districts. And rightfully so, as those three types of local governments […]
Analysis shows Iowa was following national trends in 2021. Public policy decisions have consequences, as is evident when viewing IRS data on the number of individuals who move and establish residency in new states each year. While some states like California and Illinois are experiencing an oversized exodus, Iowa did not have a huge gain or loss from domestic migration […]
Instead of crying wolf every time a minimal amount is cut from their revenue growth, local governments should rein in their spending. The dust hasn’t even settled on a new property tax law that provides tax breaks to seniors and veterans and local governments are already crying wolf. An article published by Axios Des Moines claims the new property tax […]
At a time when property valuations are increasing and Iowans are struggling financially from inflation, local communities must focus on paying their debt off, not finding new spending projects. Iowa governments took on nearly 7% more debt — almost $1.3 billion — in fiscal year 2022 (FY22). The current Outstanding Obligations Report from the state treasurer shows this to be […]
Lawmakers at every level have control over how much the government spends. If our nation’s lawmakers need an example to emulate for good habits, though, Iowa can show them the playbook. During the most recent debt ceiling drama in our nation’s capital, modest spending reductions were exchanged for an increase in the federal government’s borrowing limit. While that compromise is […]
The Hawkeye State is on a path of one limited-government-policy victory after another. This article was originally published by National Review. When it comes to politics, Iowa is recognized coast to coast for its first-in-the-nation caucuses during election season. When it comes to policy, Iowa has traditionally not been noticed at all. That began to change after the 2016 election brought Republicans unified […]
With the fiscal year almost over, the state is performing close to the latest REC forecast. Iowa’s revenue report for May has been released and the data revealed net General Fund revenue for the month was $189.9 million (-15.4%) below the May 2022 net revenue level. When broken down by the three largest sources (personal income tax, sales/use tax, and corporate income […]
Some cities may have collected more taxes than they needed and now they’re stockpiling your cash. Why the numbers matter During debate in the 2023 Iowa Legislature over a technical correction related to the taxable value of properties, the spotlight touched on the topic of reserve funds. The correction in question lowers the amount of taxable valuation cities and other local governments […]
Iowa cities do important work, and that requires the collection of taxes. Problems surface, however, when cities with similar populations and services spend vastly different amounts of taxpayers’ money. Iowa’s 940 cities collect around 30% of all the property taxes we pay each year. Many of us are supportive of spending on law enforcement, emergency management, and roads. Where disagreement […]
While the homestead exemption will reduce property taxes by exempting a certain amount of a home’s value from taxation, it will be short-lived if local governments are not given a spending limitation. Iowa lawmakers responded to constituent complaints of rising assessments and growing property tax bills with the most comprehensive property tax reform package in over 30 years. One specific […]
With the fiscal year almost over, the state is continuing to outperform last year. Iowa’s revenue report for April has been released and the data revealed net General Fund revenue for the month was $157.3 million (-18.1%) below the April 2022 net revenue level. When broken down by the three largest sources (personal income tax, sales/use tax, and corporate income tax), revenue […]
At a time when property taxes are increasing across the state, requirements must be put into place to ensure Iowans have transparency on decisions about bonds and local tax increases. Iowa has long been at the forefront of elections in the United States. Since the 1970s, both major political parties have held their caucuses in the state, and around 93% […]
Local government officials should focus less on “keeping up with the Joneses” and more on the core services demanded by their constituents. Property taxes are arguably the most hated tax in Iowa, and rightfully so. The tax bill grows whether or not the homeowner has done anything to the property. Consequently, Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation’s latest poll found that […]
The system used to calculate property taxes in Iowa is too complicated. It’s easy to get lost in all of the calculations that go into determining your property tax bill, so we’ll try to simplify some of the items for you. The first thing to remember is property taxes in your community are determined by how much your local elected […]
With three-quarters of the fiscal year behind us, the state is continuing to outperform last year. Iowa’s revenue report for March has been released and the data revealed net General Fund revenue for the month was $39 million (7.3%) above the March 2022 net revenue level. When broken down by the three largest sources (personal income tax, sales/use tax, and corporate income […]
When a state starts to move away from sound tax policy, even if it does so with the best of intentions, unintended consequences can abound. Exempting certain goods and services from taxation is a literal example of government “picking winners and losers.” A sales tax holiday is a limited time period during which a state frees purchases of specific items […]
All bonded indebtedness, voted levies, and other revenue or spending questions that directly affect property taxes should be placed on November election ballots for the greatest possible participation of the electorate. On March 7, 2023, 22 taxing authorities spread across 35 Iowa counties held special elections that included bond questions totaling nearly $400 million in potential new spending. A majority of […]
Iowa counties do important work. However, problems surface when counties with similar populations and services spend vastly different amounts of taxpayers’ money. Iowa’s 99 counties collect the third-largest portion of property taxes statewide, after cities and school districts — representing approximately 22 percent of the overall property tax burden. Counties have historically played a major role in the conduct of […]
Taxpayers who believe their assessments are incorrect have a window between April 2 and April 30 to officially protest them. All real property in Iowa is assessed beginning in January of odd-numbered years. Residential, commercial, and industrial properties are assessed according to their market values, while agricultural property is assessed according to its productivity and net earning capacity. Iowans may […]
A Des Moines Register poll of Iowa adults conducted in early March found majorities favoring property tax cuts and gradual elimination of the state’s individual income tax. One question asked whether Iowans favor “cut[ting] property taxes, limiting what local governments could spend on services.”
Some counties may be holding on to more reserve funds than necessary. Why the numbers matter. During debate in the 2023 Iowa Legislature over a technical correction related to the taxable value of properties, the spotlight touched on the topic of reserve funds. The correction in question lowers the amount of taxable valuation counties and other local governments can draw from, and […]
Iowa is demonstrating financial resiliency on numerous measures, despite the uncertainty plaguing the broader American economy. The State Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) met on March 10, 2023 to evaluate the current (FY23) and the next two fiscal years (FY24 and FY25). Members on the REC mentioned that Iowa’s withholdings are starting to show impacts from the tax cuts, but Iowa continues to […]
CON laws have decreased competition in Iowa’s healthcare field, resulting in higher medical costs and reduced healthcare access. The news has recently been telling stories about Iowa nursing homes closing and rural hospitals at risk. Iowans are facing higher healthcare costs and fewer options, and one reason is an extremely burdensome regulation called Certificate of Need, or CON. Healthcare providers […]
While taxpayers have a choice whether to stay home or dine out and support area businesses, they should not be forced to pay for a commercial developer’s business loan. This type of tax increase should go to a vote of the people. Do Iowans want to pay supercharged sales taxes when they go out to eat? Will they be excited […]