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Whatever happens on the pension side of this property tax limitation bill, Iowans should not miss the significant consequences for local public services.

Iowa stacks taxes against middle, low-income Iowans Study: New state tax law reinforces long-term trend of regressive taxes Iowa summary sheet (PDF) IOWA CITY, Iowa (Oct. 17, 2018) — Iowa taxes its middle- and low-income families more as a share Read more

Questions for Iowa before adopting the pass-through loophole need answers: Costs of $100 million-plus, benefits to wealthy — some vs. others at the same income.

Do these highly profitable companies need state subsidies? Would Iowa legislators choose these subsidies over funding for education, human services and public safety?

The plan includes some desirable reforms that need not have come at the expense of essential public services that inevitably will have to be cut in the face of revenue losses. It also omits reforms that could enhance Iowa tax fairness. 

Overall the Senate plan would erode revenues, create structural budget deficits for years to come, and force cuts certain to imperil Iowa’s basic infrastructure and traditionally accepted responsibilities for its residents.

Despite chronic revenue shortfalls that have forced a series of mid-year budget cuts, senators are moving a tax-cut bill forward without even an analysis of its impact.

Neither fairness nor adequate funding of state services appear to be the focus of either bill, but let's give serious analysis a chance.

IFP Statement — IPP's Peter Fisher: Eliminating federal deductibility and adding sales tax for online sales are good starts, but many reasons to question Governor Reynolds’ plan.