Last week, Iowa legislators passed a property tax reform bill aimed at limiting the out-of-control increases of property tax bills. On KCCI’s Close Up, Amanda Rooker, KCCI Chief Political Reporter, sat down with Chris Hagenow, ITR President, to discuss the new legislation’s impact on Iowans. Here is their conversation.
The most practical way to view the Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa is that it allows a broader range of ideas to flourish on campus. Reasonable people can disagree, and the center offers students an opportunity to engage more deeply with the nation’s history while participating in thoughtful, open discussion of important issues. That is, after all, a key tenet of higher e...
Property tax reform can feel like fighting a war on a thousand fronts. Should the focus be on assessments, levy rates, or rollback? Or on Tax Increment Financing (TIF), targeted credits, and exemptions? School funding adds yet another layer. While all these factors influence property taxes, they often distract from the core issue that has undermined past reform efforts. That issue is government sp...
Property tax reform can feel like fighting a war on a thousand fronts. Should the focus be on assessments, levy rates, or rollback? Or on Tax Increment Financing (TIF), targeted credits, and exemptions? School funding adds yet another layer. While all these factors influence property taxes, they often distract from the core issue that has undermined past reform efforts. That issue is government sp...
The challenge ahead is to remain engaged in global markets while ensuring that Iowa’s economy, institutions, and essential systems are resilient against external pressure and influence.
In recent years, Iowa has seen dramatic improvements in tax competitiveness. According to the Tax Foundation’s Tax Competitiveness Index, the state’s tax policy improved enough between 2020 and 2025 to move from a rank of 43 to a rank of 17. Still, Iowa has one glaring hole in its tax policy: a high and burdensome property tax. If the state wants to maintain a vibrant population, substantial prope...
The need for more qualified workers is a bipartisan issue in Iowa. Regardless of a rural or urban setting, workforce is still a concern for many employers and communities. State policymakers have been responsive to this concern, and they have actively been easing regulatory burdens in recent years. This includes reducing barriers to employment and ensuring that unnecessary roadblocks do not deter ...
Sarah Curry of Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation says this is the time to voice your opinions to elected leaders. "April is when we have public hearings," Curry says. "Waiting until April is almost too late because they've done all of this legwork and they've gotten up to that point for taxpayers to then come in and say, 'That's too much,' or 'We're spending too much,' 'The tax rate's too high' or ...
Sayers wants to see tax cuts for everyone. That approach aligns with advocacy group, Iowans for Tax Relief. "When you reduce Iowans tax burden, whether it be business or individual, there's more money in their pockets that they can deploy into the economy," said Chris Hagenow, president of Iowans for Tax Relief.