There is only one reason for property tax increases – local government spending.
Find out how local government spending has impacted YOUR property tax bill by clicking on “City”, “County”, or “School District” at the top of this page.
* Only cities with a population greater than 1,000 or are a county seat are included on this website.
Join ITR – It’s FREE!
Stay updated about your community’s property taxes by subscribing to the ITR Local newsletter:
When local elected officials choose to spend more and raise property taxes, they need to clearly explain why government needs the money more than the people they represent.
The information provided on ITR Local is intended to help start a conversation with the people who determine how much you pay in property taxes: your local school board, city council, and county supervisors.
Iowans expect quality public services at a reasonable cost.
However, property taxes in Iowa are growing faster than they should. Use the information on this site to learn more about your community, share with your neighbors, and start a conversation with your city council, county supervisors, and school board.
What is reasonable? A reasonable property tax growth rate is one that is close to the combined percent change of inflation and population.
The chart below shows the total property taxes collected by local governments across Iowa have grown much faster than the state’s population and inflation.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Iowa Legislative Services Agency. Calculations by ITR Local.
This article was published in The Gazette. Spending drives taxation. A strict 2 percent property tax cap on the growth of property taxes would force local governments to restrain spending. Iowa has been successful at income tax reform because it has balanced prudent budgeting with pro-growth tax rate reductions. In addition…
This article was published in the Telegraph Herald and The Gazette. Paring back unnecessary local expenditures and then capping property tax growth at 2% would save taxpayers $250 million a year. Governing magazine crowned Gov. Kim Reynolds among 2024’s leading public officials, lauding conservative reforms that slashed Iowa’s punishing 9% income tax to…
Seventeen local governments are going back to taxpayers for more after recent election asks. Three cities, one county, and 13 schools are going back to taxpayers asking for more money in the November 2024 election despite their other recent ballot measures that asked taxpayers for more money. Six of these…
Voters will be asked to approve funding for emergency medical services (EMS), more commonly referred to as “the ambulance tax.” Current law (federal, state, and local) allows variation in how government entities provide (or do not provide) emergency medical services (EMS), including ambulance services. Iowa’s statutes require local delivery of…
Taxpayers across 59 counties, representing 82% of the state’s population, will be asked to increase their debt burden. The November 5, 2024, general election ballots in 59 counties will have bond questions. This potential new spending of $1.13 billion would, if enacted, directly affect 82.4% of the state’s population. The…
