In November 2025, Iowa voters weighed in on 58 local bond proposals, which directly affect property tax bills for up to 20 years, with turnout significantly higher than in other local races. Average turnout for bond elections was 37.1%, more than double the statewide average for city and school elections, suggesting voters engage more when long-term tax impacts are clear. Higher voter participatio...
"Property taxes are an issue. And I think voters are being more picky," said Sarah Curry with Iowans for Tax Relief, a group that advocates for lower taxes.Curry says that while some metro voters were willing to accept higher taxes to fund new schools, many Iowans elsewhere were not."When we look statewide, there were actually 25 bonds that passed and 33 failed. Knoxville, Panorama, I-35 — all...
In this episode of ITR Live, Chris Hagenow and Sarah Curry break down the results of Iowa’s November local elections, where billions in local debt and dozens of bond measures were on the line. From record-breaking approval totals in Des Moines to a wave of rejections across rural Iowa, the results reveal a complex picture of how taxpayers view government spending at the local level.
Iowa voters considered 58 bond proposals totaling more than $1.7 billion in potential new borrowing. A majority (57%) of those proposals failed, with only 25 proposals (43%) gaining approval. Many repeat proposals were rejected again, showing continued taxpayer concern about property taxes and government spending. Just over $1 billion in new debt was approved, with nearly $700 million denied.
It's important for voters to consider the ask, says ITR President Chris Hagenow."It's separating the wants versus the needs. If something needs to happen, then voters should be aware of that, and that, that obviously, may qualify for voting for a bond," Hagenow says. "These bond decisions are in large part driving the increase year over year in property tax burden. And we think that many times, ...
Yet despite the high cost of borrowing, 55 bond proposals totaling more than $1.6 billion will be on the ballot for Iowa voters this November. Even more striking in this interest rate environment is that 18 local governments — 15 school districts, two counties, and one community college — are returning with repeat bond requests.
Across Iowa, local officials are asking voters to approve more than $1 billion in new bond debt this November — often with the soothing assurance that these projects “won’t raise your taxes.” But that promise deserves scrutiny. It’s like paying off your car loan, immediately financing the purchase of a new one, and insisting it doesn’t cost more — just because the monthly payment stayed the same. ...
The results are in: every public measure on September 9, 2025, ballot passed across the state. That is notable, but the real headline should be the persistently low voter turnout in these September special elections—and whether it’s time to eliminate them altogether. On September 9, seven public measures appeared statewide. Three renewed the Physical Plant and Equipment Property Tax Levy (PPEL) fo...
The March 2025 special election results once again highlight the persistent challenges of low voter turnout. While many measures passed, the limited participation raises concerns about the fairness and transparency of the process.