Independent Analysis and Information on Iowa Tax and Budget Issues

The highest-paid Iowans have to work 3 weeks per year to pay their state and local tax obligation (5.8% of income). The lowest-paid Iowans have to work twice as long to do the same (10.6% of income).
11/22/2004
Iowa's State Fiscal Crisis and Its Impact on Education
Erosion of Support at All Levels

Four years of state budget crisis has hurt education at all levels. This report notes double-digit percentage declines in state funding for the three state universities from 2001 to 2004. It also notes similar declines for community colleges. In real terms, funding for K-12 education has also decreased and schools are being squeezed from several directions: across-the-board cuts, inadequate allowable growth, sluggish and negative growth in property valuations, and the phase out of the budget guarantee.

Read the press release.
Read the executive summary and full report.