A BILL THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE THE PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM FOR IOWA HOMEOWNERS HAS CLEARED THE STATE SENATE.
SENATOR DAN DAWSON, A REPUBLICAN FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS, CALLS IT THE FIRST STEP TOWARD A PLAN THAT CAN WIN APPROVAL IN THE IOWA HOUSE AND BE SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR REYNOLDS.
PROPTAX26 OC……..THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. :16
THE BILL PASSED ON A 41-TO-FOUR VOTE. ALL BUT ONE DEMOCRAT VOTED FOR IT AND DAWSON SAYS THAT AFFIRMS THE PLAN IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
PROPTAX27 OC……ALL POLITICAL PARTIES.” ;11
SENATOR TONY BISIGNANO, A DEMOCRAT FROM DES MOINES, SAYS THE BILL’S NOT PERFECT, BUT IT’S A GOOD OPENER FOR NEGOTIATIONS.
PROPTAX28 OC……..THE RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNER.” :09
THE BILL WOULD CAP CITY AND COUNTY REVENUE GROWTH BETWEEN TWO AND FIVE PERCENT, BASED ON INFLATION.
IT WOULD REPLACE IOWA’S SYSTEM THAT LIMITS HOW FAST THE TAXABLE VALUE HOME GROWS WITH A 50 PERCENT HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION.
THAT EXEMPTION WOULD START GROWING FOR IOWANS ONCE THEY REACH THE AGE OF 60 — AND BY THE TIME A HOMEOWNER TURNS 100, THEY WOULD PAY NO PROPERTY TAX AT ALL.
THE BILL ALSO CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE INCREASE IN THE GAS TAX, FOLLOWED BY INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN THE FUTURE TIED TO INFLATION.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY TAX PLAN, BUT HAVE NOT INDICATED WHEN IT WILL COME UP FOR A VOTE IN THE HOUSE.
RADIO IOWA
