Iowa House passes $32 million Tax Increase.
Nathan Greene
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Another day, another tax increase for Iowa taxpayers. Yesterday, the Iowa House passed the Statewide School Tax, which means residents and businesses would pay an estimated $32 million more a year in taxes. This replaces and makes permanent the current local option sales tax plans that most counties have passed, but which generally expire after a certain period of time.
Once again, Iowa Democrats are taking away the voice of local taxpayers and residents when it comes to the school districts' needs. If a district needs taxpayer funds to improve its buildings, I think it is only appropriate that it go to the voters with a proposal and make its case. That’s what they did 10 years ago in Davenport, and a month or so ago the voters extended the local option sales tax for another 10 years.
The real reason for the statewide tax is two-fold. First, these tax proponents obviously wanted to get their hands on $32 million more of our tax dollars. Secondly, they need this funding stream to be stable and predictable so that in a year from now, they can amend the bill to allow the money to help pay teachers salaries just like Governor Culver mentioned this spring when he spoke to the ISEA.
We already see how hard it is to be against a school infrastructure tax, so how could somebody vote against that little old kindergarten teacher who pulls your kids' teeth. Wait, I bet they don’t allow that anymore…
Anyway, it’s just another day and another tax increase and favor to a big union.
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