Is Your School Making the Grade?

ITR Report Card is unlike anything else in the country, it’s a vital tool that brings transparency and accountability to the forefront—so school boards can focus on what truly matters: student success.

Whether you’re a parent wanting the best for your child, a taxpayer who wants to know how your dollars are being spent, or a community leader shaping policy—this website is for you.

Liberty or Bureaucracy? The CFPB’s Overreach on Overdraft Fees

As Iowans continue to benefit from sound fiscal policies like accelerated tax cuts and conservative budgeting, we cannot lose sight of what’s happening in Washington. In a troubling—but completely predictable—display of regulatory overreach, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has finalized a rule that threatens to remove an important financial tool from low-income Americans while expanding the power of unelected bureaucrats.

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.

Iowa Must Increase Transparency on Federal Funds

Subheading 30-Second Summary: Iowa’s reliance on federal funds significantly impacts the state’s fiscal flexibility, often imposing restrictions and obligations that limit its ability to implement independent tax and budget policies. To address this challenge, Iowa must adopt two key legislative changes: creating a federal funds inventory and requiring agency guidance disclosure regarding federal funding. A comprehensive inventory of federal funds received by the state […]

Iowa’s Migration Results for 2022

IRS Migration Data provides insight to where Iowa loses and gains residents. The IRS has released their annual migration data that outlines how people, and their incomes, moved from state to state. The newest data, measuring changes from 2021 to 2022, tracks closely with last year’s release. For Iowa, that means we again realized the most inward migration from Illinois, California, and Nebraska. On the […]

Local Elections Shape Our Communities

By electing responsible city council members and school board officials, and by carefully considering bond issues, we can have a significant impact on the quality and cost of our lives. Voting in local elections, which in Iowa this year includes city council, school board, and new bond issues, is of critical importance for every citizen. While national elections often steal […]

No More Blank Checks

Despite claims of inflation fears, the data shows city and county budgets have been outpacing inflation for years. An Axios Des Moines article about recent property tax reforms really caught our eye. In the article, a handful of city and county leaders in Iowa were lamenting new changes to Iowa law meant to rein in the growth of property taxes. One […]

The Debt Ceiling’s Impact on Iowa

When the federal government is forced into true spending cuts, dollars sent to the states could be first on the chopping block. There is an old adage that says a successful compromise is achieved when all parties involved walk away unhappy.  That take might be too cynical, but it is also grounded in reality.  And if that definition is accurate, […]

What’s On Tap for School Choice?

School choice can take many shapes and sizes.  We will all soon find out exactly what Governor Reynolds and the legislature have in mind for Iowa.  When Iowa House Republicans released committee assignments for the 2023 legislative session, one new committee stood out above the rest: the Education Reform Committee.  Speaker Pat Grassley will chair the committee that he explained will […]

The School Choice Questions We Should Be Asking

The education establishment has done an amazing job of creating the perfect “Emperor’s New Clothes” scenario when arguing against school choice.  We’ll remind you of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale that raises questions about believing our own two eyes or buying into a pretense that is being sold to us.  In the story, the emperor is fond of clothes […]

Iowans like Gov. Reynolds and support a flat tax; Republicans lead in generic ballot.

The most recent Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation Poll, conducted by Cygnal, shows Governor Kim Reynolds is very popular, and Iowans strongly support the idea of a 4% flat tax. Additionally, a plurality of Iowans supports United States military involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Governor Reynolds has an incredibly high net favorability and was by far the most popular person tested. […]

Disappointment for the Tax and Spend Crowd

Nothing from the local elections here in Iowa, nor races across the country, will have changed the perception that this political environment is toxic for those who want to push a tax and spend agenda.   Tuesday’s elections in Iowa and across the country are now in the books.  Iowa voters went to the polls to elect candidates to school […]

Iowa Voters Sour on Biden; Like Reynolds, Grassley, and Trump

ITR Foundation Poll shows strong support for cutting taxes and school choice The inaugural ITR Foundation Poll conducted in partnership with Cygnal reveals 54 percent of Iowans think the state is headed in the right direction. However, they are pessimistic about their personal economic outlook and say their income and property taxes are too high. ITR Foundation (formerly TEF Iowa) […]

Releasing Iowa’s Economic Albatross

All indications, except for the precarious feel of the China trade war, seem to show that Iowa’s economy is doing well.  While we may be enjoying a temporary surge due to President Donald Trump’s economic policies, we must make decisions that grow and sustain our state for the long haul. Iowa competes with other states, both for jobs and people, […]