Owning a house or other property is becoming unaffordable for too many Iowans. Property tax bills are increasing faster than what is reasonable. Something has to be done.
Iowa's property tax burden is the 10th highest in the country.
Many city councils and county supervisors won't reduce levy rates enough to offset assessment increases.
The legislature has done a good job of slowing the growth in state spending in recent years. This has led to meaningful state income tax cuts.
Unfortunately, the example set by the legislature on spending and tax policy has generally not been continued at the local level and slowed the growth of your property tax bill.
Iowans can’t afford to wait for cities and counties to fix the problem on their own. Because local governments are subdivisions of the state, the responsibility now falls on state lawmakers to act – to protect Iowans from local elected officials who are more interested in growing their sprawling government obligations than protecting family budgets.
ITR's Property Tax Solution
Step One: A Two-Year Property Tax Freeze
State lawmakers need to force local elected officials to make tough spending decisions that protect family budgets by enacting an immediate, temporary freeze on property tax bills for existing properties and then consider long-term solutions.
Freezing local government revenue from existing properties does not impact local governments’ ability to increase spending. It forces them to draw down cash reserves if revenue from new growth is insufficient to support what local elected officials believe is necessary for operations.
Step Two: Enact Longer-Term Options
While property taxes are frozen for existing properties, lawmakers should consider long-term options for controlling the growth of property taxes:
Most lobbyists at the Capitol work to increase the amount of tax dollars given to their clients. ITR has lobbyists at the Capitol too, and they speak up for you, the taxpayer.
In addition to property taxes, here are the other issues ITR will work on during the 2023 legislative session:
Public Assistance Program Integrity
Iowa needs to ensure tax dollars are funding those who are truly in need in order to take some burden off hardworking taxpayers and encourage those wrongfully receiving benefits to return to the workforce.
Taxpayer-Funded Lobbyists
Many cities, counties, and school districts hire lobbyists. However, these lobbyists are not subject to open records laws. If your property tax dollars are paying for lobbying activities, you deserve to know exactly how your money is used.
Federal Funds – Cut the Strings
Almost half of Iowa’s expenditures are made with federal funds. This money often comes with strings attached. If the federal government cuts back, Iowa would be left holding the bag.
Occupational Licensing Reform
These laws often make it more difficult and expensive for Iowans to earn a living and fill high-demand jobs.
Needs to Go: Certificate of Need
Certificate of Need laws decrease competition in the healthcare field, resulting in higher medical costs and reduced healthcare access.
Universal Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)
It is unfair to limit non-public school opportunities to more affluent families while those who do not have the financial means must rely on the public system.
Regulatory Reform
Too many regulations drive up the costs of doing business beyond what is reasonable to protect health and safety, and those costs hinder economic growth and increase prices for consumers.
Right to Try
Patients needing medication that is experimental in nature simply do not have the time to wait for government processes, so it is important to get government out of the way and give them a chance at life.
Recent ITR Live Podcast Episodes
Get to Work
As the 90th Iowa General Assembly convenes, what can taxpayers look forward to in the coming session?
