A property tax bill continues to go through the Iowa House that proponents say makes the process more transparent for local governments.

District 47 Republican Phil Thompson of Jefferson says the bill establishes a process for which a local government that wants to raise their overall budget over two-percent, would have to first take a public vote and justify why they need to raise it. Once a public vote has been taken and passed, then the governmental entity would notify the general public. Thompson says if the taxpayers agree with the raise, then nothing happens and the tax levy can increase. However, Thompson points out residents can petition for a reverse referendum, and if the voters disapprove of the raise, then it reverts back to the two-percent cap.

Thompson explains the intent of the bill. “It’s kind of being presented that if you don’t raise the (tax) levy rate, especially if you’re in local government you kind of run or act as a champion of that kind of fiscal policy. So this bill just makes it a little more of a transparent process and shines a light on a problem that we’ve seen where local government isn’t really being 100-percent transparent as far as property taxes year to year.”

In addition, Thompson filed a bill related to property taxes that would allow the county or city governmental entity to freeze the property tax rate for applicants that are over 70-years-old and make less than $45,000.

“The idea of that is to keep these populations of elderly people from being priced out of their homes that they’ve lived in forever and have no intention of selling. It’s a tragedy to me when you price people out of their homes, especially when their income levels aren’t going up either if there’s not a cost of living adjustment that goes along with their pension benefits.”

Both bills are still in the House for consideration.