Governor Kim Reynolds’ DOGE Taskforce is approaching the final phase of its work, with a wide-ranging agenda aimed at making Iowa’s government more efficient, accountable, and responsive. While the taskforce was initially formed to help identify opportunities to ease the burden of property taxes, its recommendations extend far beyond that, also addressing education, regulatory reform, the structure of state and local government, and pension reforms
The taskforce’s stated mission is to “continue reducing the cost of government, maximizing the return on taxpayer investment, and leveraging new technology at all levels—federal, state, and local.” Over the past several months, the 15-member panel has been developing bold, forward-looking reforms across a variety of policy areas.
In its most recent meeting, the taskforce reviewed 45 preliminary recommendations, which are expected to be finalized in September before being submitted to Governor Reynolds by the September 29 deadline.
In a new series of articles, ITR Foundation will spotlight several of the taskforce’s most significant reform ideas—focusing on proposals related to education, regulations, local government, and public pensions.
At this time, one of the most interesting components of the DOGE Taskforce is the Return on Investment Committee, chaired by Terry Lutz, former Mayor of Fort Dodge. In a prior meeting, Lutz described Iowa’s property tax issue as the “elephant in the room.”
The task force is focusing on streamlining local government operations to ease the property tax burden. “We do not intend to nibble around the edges. We hope to make bold recommendations to move the needle of efficiency in our government—the way our government delivers services,” stated Lutz. He also emphasized that the group is “looking for ways to reduce the tax burden without shifting the cost to other taxes or fees.”
One reform now under consideration by the Return on Investment Committee is a proposal to amend Iowa code to create “independent cities.” These would be defined as cities with populations of 50,000 or more, and they could operate independently—no longer relying on the county for services but instead implementing and managing those services on their own.
As an example, Lutz suggested that “vehicle registration could be managed via an Amazon-like model in a centralized way, eliminating the need for 99 variations of how these services are provided.” Earlier discussions within the task force included the idea of consolidating Iowa’s 99 counties, but it appears that proposal may be off the table. Instead, the focus has shifted toward consolidating and sharing services between counties and cities.
“Our unique makeup of 99 counties and numerous cities and townships was an efficient system when we traveled by horse and buggy 180 years ago,” Lutz noted. He added, “The public is certainly aware that this system is plagued with inefficiencies and often results in poor service.” One example he gave was transferring responsibility for maintaining county roads to the Iowa Department of Transportation, which he argued would improve efficiency.
Other areas being considered for shared services include 911 dispatch, EMS, public health, and the proposed one-stop Amazon-style portal for vehicle registration and similar services.
Whether it’s Governor Reynolds’ DOGE Taskforce or another effort, it is becoming increasingly clear that no matter what property tax system is in place, unchecked government spending is a key driver of higher tax bills. Similar discussions are taking place in other states, where serious reform efforts are zeroing in on how local governments operate.
Beyond any of the specific proposals emerging from the DOGE Taskforce, Iowans should be encouraged by the broader effort to identify areas where government can be more efficient, accountable, and effective. Whether or not each idea becomes law, the real value lies in highlighting opportunities for reform and sparking conversations that can lead to meaningful change. Combined with Governor Reynolds’ commitment to limiting the size and scope of government, this work lays a strong foundation for thoughtful policymaking in the 2026 legislative session and beyond.
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