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 TIF: A cash cow for Iowa cities |
Look Out for Cities' Cash Cow: One Reason TIF Reform is Needed in 2012 |
| Abuse of tax-increment financing by cities in Iowa is a statewide problem. Johnson County is a case study of why reforms are needed, and which reforms might help. Read IFP Summary of TIF situation in Iowa Read IFP report (15-page PDF) or executive summary (2-page PDF) 11/21/11 Also see report appendix (maps) or news release 11/21/11 View Johnson County forum on TIF reform, or view slides from Peter Fisher's presentation 1/4/12 “TIF has been allowed to degenerate to the point that many cities view a TIF area as a perpetual cash cow to finance a wide range of city operations that have nothing to do with economic development.” — IFP's Peter Fisher | |
| Time to Update and Upgrade Iowa's Earned Income Tax Credit | |
 While expanding the state Earned Income Tax Credit alone cannot provide full equity for working Iowa families with children, it can begin to correct some of the most egregious impacts upon Iowa families working to raise their children well.Read Charles Bruner's policy brief or download 2-page PDF 2/2/12 LATEST! The 2012 legislative session offers lawmakers a timely opportunity to review and expand Iowa’s Earned Income Tax Credit. Read Charles Bruner's policy brief or download 3-page PDF 12/29/11 A national report puts a spotlight on Iowa’s poor treatment of low-income working families. Read news release or download 2-page PDF 11/15/11 A family of four making $30,000 in Iowa would have received a state income tax reduction of about $97 through enactment of the EITC increase, if Governor Branstad had not vetoed the measure. It makes a difference for working families trying to raise their children at only a little above the poverty level. Read statement 7/28/11 | |
| The 2012 Agenda: Assure TIF Reform, EITC Upgrade, Preschool Improvements | |
| The test of this legislative session will be how lawmakers fill in the blanks left by the Governor's address. That means reform of tax-increment financing, and improvements to working-family tax policy and preschool in Iowa. Read IFP Statement 1/10/12 | |
| No More Sticker Shock | |
| One provision of the new health reform law is a side-of-the-box-style summary of what's inside each plan — consumer friendly information to aid comparison-shopping for insurance. Read Issue Snapshot or download 1-page PDF 8/23/11 | |
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