DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) – Raise your hand if you think your property taxes are too high?
Iowa Speaker of the House Pat Grassley, a Republican from rural New Hartford, told Gray Media Iowa that residents have complained about how high their tax bills have grown in recent years. Grassley said that his party will work to change that this legislative session.
On Monday a new legislative session will begin. It will also start the eighth year that Iowa Republicans have the Statehouse “trifecta” (a governor from their party and majorities in both the house and senate chambers).
Grassley, the chamber’s speaker since 2020, will also have the most Republican colleagues in the house that he has had since he got elected to the legislature in 2006: 67.
He supported bipartisan legislation two years ago that lawmakers said could provide $100 million in relief for property owners with a series of changes that capped levy rates, combined several existing levies into a general levy, and placed local governments into one of three tiers based on their revenue growth.
Grassley said that Republicans are committed to make additional changes to the property tax system this session to further limit local increases.
But he admitted that property taxes are complicated, and legislators must be mindful not to place too many restrictions which could hamper local governments’ ability to fund essential services, something that local leaders have stressed to legislators.
Grassley was not as certain that Republicans would work in the upcoming session to further lower personal income taxes. A new 3.8% flat tax took effect January 1st, which places Iowans in the same tax bracket regardless of their income.
He said that Republicans have been careful not to cut taxes too fast as they have approved five reductions since they held the majority.
Tax cuts now in effect are the main reason why the state’s revenue estimating conference expects Iowa’s state government will see a reduction of about $1 billion in incoming revenue by July 1, 2026.
Grassley said that it is possible, but unlikely, that Republicans would pass additional income tax cuts this year. Further cuts, he said, would require revenue projections to unexpectedly improve significantly.
About the author: Midwest native Dave Price is Gray Television’s Iowa Political Director for nine stations that broadcast in the state and has been covering local, state and national politics from Iowa since 2001.
Dave produces and hosts “Inside Iowa Politics,” a weekly, in-depth show focused on interviews with top leaders on politics, issues, challenges and solutions that impact the state.
He has written two books about the Iowa Caucuses (“Caucus Chaos” and “Caucus Chaos Trump”). Email him at dave.price@gray.tv. Follow him on X (Twitter): @idaveprice Meta/Facebook: DavePriceNews Instagram: idaveprice and LinkedIn: Dave Price.
Dave welcomes your thoughts on what answers to seek from politicians and what issues challenge our communities.
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