{"id":39389,"date":"2023-03-31T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-31T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itrfoundation.org\/?p=39389"},"modified":"2023-12-28T12:26:27","modified_gmt":"2023-12-28T18:26:27","slug":"how-is-your-county-spending-property-taxes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itrfoundation.org\/how-is-your-county-spending-property-taxes\/","title":{"rendered":"How Is Your County Spending Property Taxes?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Iowa counties do important work. However, problems surface when counties with similar populations and services spend vastly different amounts of taxpayers\u2019 money. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iowa\u2019s 99 counties collect the third-largest portion of property taxes statewide, after cities and school districts \u2014 representing approximately 22 percent of the overall property tax burden. Counties have historically played a major role in the conduct of local government in Iowa, and they remain the primary source of core government services for residents. Counties perform state administrative functions, such as the issuance of licenses and permits, along with more-local services, including enforcement of zoning ordinances, maintenance of county jails, the management of elections, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Few would dispute that many of these services are simply expected by taxpayers from their local government. Other county expenditures, however, do not support core functions but instead unnecessarily increase the tax burden on residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation (ITRF) took a deep dive into county budgets to see where all the tax money goes. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, Iowa\u2019s 99 counties have budgeted more than $3.2 billion across the eight major service areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Public Safety and Legal Services primarily include law enforcement, emergency management, and the county attorney\u2019s office.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Physical Health and Social Services include services to the poor, elderly residents, and pregnant women, as well as food and beverage inspections and administrative expenses for the office of the Board of Health and Veterans\u2019 Affairs. In some counties, this area also accounts for chemical dependency programs and youth shelter care.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. County Environment and Education includes environmental improvement, conservation and recreational services, land-use control, economic development, historic preservation, libraries, and county fairs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Roads and Transportation expenditures maintain and\/or build roads, bridges, airports, and railroads.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Government Services to Residents include many state-mandated services, such as elections, motor vehicle registration, and the recording of public documents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Administration expenses include salaries and wages for boards of supervisors, auditors, and treasures and their respective staffs, as well as many insurance costs and general office expenses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Debt Service expenses account for principal and interest payments on long-term debt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Capital Projects expenses include certain road construction and items such as new jails and courthouse renovations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n