Voters Show Restraint in 2025 Bond Elections

30-Second Summary:

• 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.

Learn more:

• Read the article and see the results across the state.

• Listen to Chris and Sarah on the ITR Live Podcast.

• Watch Sarah on KCCI News.

Iowa’s Flat Tax Success Should Inspire the Next Chapter of Reform

30-Second Summary:

• Iowa’s Tax Transformation: Over six years, Iowa has climbed from 44th to 17th in the Tax Foundation’s competitiveness rankings—proof that years of conservative budgeting and tax reform have turned one of America’s least-friendly tax codes into a national model.

• Flat Tax Success and Competitiveness: Governor Kim Reynolds’ 3.8% flat income tax, paired with falling corporate rates and a flush Taxpayer Relief Fund, has positioned Iowa as a strong contrast to neighboring states Minnesota and Illinois.

• Next Steps for Reform: To sustain its momentum, Iowa must address high property taxes, apply the same spending discipline at the local level, responsibly lower the flat rate using revenue triggers, and safeguard taxpayer protections to keep its pro-growth policies permanent.

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Too Many Reform Ideas May Miss the Mark

30-Second Summary:

• South Dakota’s Approach: A state task force proposed 19 different property tax reforms, but the most meaningful idea focuses on cutting government spending—the true driver of high property taxes.

• The Spending Challenge: Proposals to redirect state funds or create relief accounts miss the mark because they don’t rein in local government and school district spending, which continues to push tax bills higher.

• Iowa’s Takeaway: Iowa lawmakers should focus on spending limits—like a 2% annual cap on property tax growth—rather than new taxes or state “buy-downs,” ensuring lasting relief through disciplined local budgets.

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How Much Tax Support Do Iowa’s County Hospitals Really Need?

30-Second Summary:

• County hospitals in Iowa rely on more than $150 million a year in local property-tax funding, but the amount of support varies dramatically from county to county—ranging from less than 1 percent to more than 20 percent of annual expenses.

• Unlike cities, counties, and school districts, hospital financial statements are not uniformly reported to the state, making it difficult for taxpayers to compare costs or evaluate how efficiently local hospitals use public funds.

• ITR Foundation will continue digging deeper to obtain complete, consistent financial information so Iowans can have an informed conversation about how much tax support is truly necessary to sustain quality care.

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Per-Pupil Spending Tells More of the Story

30-Second Summary:

• Levy Rates Don’t Tell the Whole Story: School bond campaigns often highlight levy rates to suggest affordability, but that figure alone doesn’t reveal how districts spend—or the true cost to taxpayers and students.

• Per-Pupil Spending Reveals More: Looking at districtwide per-student expenditures provides a clearer picture of financial trends and priorities. For instance, Des Moines’ per-student spending is up 24% in five years, and Southeast Polk’s has risen 66%.

• Transparency Benefits Everyone: Districts should routinely publish per-student cost data by program or activity to help voters, taxpayers, and educators evaluate whether new borrowing truly delivers educational value.

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Iowa’s Absenteeism Challenge: Reconnecting Students to Learning

Regular attendance is one of the most important predictors of student success. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw firsthand how inconsistent attendance undermined learning, lowered test scores, and set back student achievement across the country. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of scheduled school days or instructional hours during a grading period. In an 180-day school year, that’s 18 or more missed days. Across the United States, chronic absenteeism surged from 15% in 2018 to 28% in 2022.

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Fitch Warns States to Prepare for Reduced Federal Support

30-Second Summary:

• Federal Burden Shift: Fitch Ratings warns that Washington’s growing debt and spending reductions are pushing more fiscal responsibilities—like SNAP and Medicaid costs—onto state governments, exposing them to greater financial risk.

• Iowa’s Exposure: Iowa remains fiscally strong thanks to conservative budgeting, but with 34% of its revenue tied to federal funds, changes from the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and future federal austerity could strain state finances.

• The Path Forward: To safeguard Iowa’s independence and long-term stability, policymakers must prepare for shrinking federal aid, limit spending growth, and reinforce the constitutional balance of federalism.

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Iowa Depends on Washington—and That’s a Problem We Can Fix

True fiscal strength means standing on our own two feet—by knowing where every federal dollar goes, demanding transparency, and reasserting control within our own borders. The Iowa Fiscal Independence Act is the path toward lasting autonomy, responsible government, and a stronger future for Iowa taxpayers.

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Hendrickson Presents Iowa Accomplishments to Top Policy Experts

Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation Policy Director John Hendrickson recently joined leading economists and policy experts from across the continent at the 2025 Economic Freedom of North America (EFNA) Network Conference, sponsored by the Fraser Institute and the Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom at Southern Methodist University. The EFNA network brings together organizations committed to advancing policies that expand individual liberty and economic opportunity.

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