The Iowa Senate has advanced a bill that will try and reduce and simplify property taxes. 

Iowa Senate Republicans have pushed forward a piece of legislation (Senate Study Bill 1124) introduced by Senator Dan Dawson from Council Bluffs which is aiming to cap cities’ and counties’ property tax levies and reduce the value at which a property is assessed along with consolidating property tax levies that fund local government operations. State Senator for District 14 Sarah Trone-Garriott has many concerns about this law including stunting growth and cutting services within her area. 

“When we put caps on property taxes, it can have the potential of holding back a city’s growth and making it very hard for a city to make sure the services are keeping up with that growing population. Sheriff’s departments and emergency medical services folks, they’re expressing a lot of concern about this legislation because in a number of places in our state, it will mean cuts to those services.”

Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson has similar concerns about reducing property taxes especially for the city of Perry. Peterson says he understands the dialog in wanting to reduce state taxes but this will affect some of the city’s essential needs.

“But what is not a part of that conversation is the effect that it will have on the services provider so is that going to be longer response times for police, fire, ems and it will probably mean fewer hours at the rec center, library maybe less care for our ballparks, parks and green space.”

Dawson claims that Iowans have complained of high property taxes and want a better seat at the table.