The legislative session is almost two months away, but the Iowans for Tax Relief (ITR) team had a busy week engaging legislators, local leaders, and Iowa voters on the topics of property tax reform and spending restraint.
ITR President Chris Hagenow in Ankeny, Iowa. Photo courtesy of Congressman Zach Nunn.
ITR President Chris Hagenow kicked off a week of outreach by participating in a roundtable discussion in Mason City with fellow panelists Senator Doug Campbell, Representatives Christian Hermanson and Henry Stone, and National Federation of Independent Business Iowa Director Matt Everson. The conversation focused on the challenges and opportunities for meaningful property tax reform heading into the 2026 legislative session, including policy solutions that can provide lasting relief for taxpayers.
ITR Foundation Policy Director John Hendrickson spoke to Urbandale activists later in the week about the direct relationship between government spending and taxation. John explained that Iowa’s property taxes have increased more than 107% since 2006. As economist Art Laffer observed, “government spending is taxation, pure and simple,” and John highlighted how rising local government spending has primarily driven the significant growth in property taxes.
ITR Foundation Policy Director John Hendrickson in Urbandale, Iowa.
John emphasized the importance of spending limits for any successful property tax reform and highlighted ITR’s 2% property tax cap proposal to slow property tax collections and control spending. He also used examples from other states to illustrate why property tax reforms succeed or fail based on whether spending restraint is part of the solution.
Chris Hagenow closed the week by addressing an Ankeny audience that included multiple state legislators, local elected officials, 2026 candidates, and Congressman Zach Nunn. Chris outlined ITR’s 2026 legislative agenda with a focus on property taxes and the need to limit local government spending. He demonstrated the wealth of information available on the ITR Local and the ITR Report Card websites, and many attendees were surprised to see how large a portion of their property tax bill goes toward public K–12 education. Chris also discussed the importance of spending restraint at the state level and reviewed two proposed constitutional amendments supported by recent ITR Foundation Poll results. Attendees at all events received information on where to find updates and resources from ITR and ITR Foundation, including how to stay informed through the ITR Live Podcast. Across these engagements, ITR leaders reinforced the organization’s commitment to advancing sound fiscal policy and providing clear, accessible information that helps Iowans understand how government spending impacts their tax burden.
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