In this episode of What’s The Frequency, we highlight the Iowa Legislature, which gaveled in earlier this month lawmakers have been working through some of their own proposals and some pitched by Governor Kim Reynolds.
The lawmakers have 100 days in their session through late April to get their work done, unless they go into overtime extra days.
Iowa government departments operate this year with a $8.5 billion overall budget. Setting the yearly budget is a big thing for lawmakers, and as they do that there are proposals to cut income taxes even further than has been done in recent years and to increase teacher pay.
In addition, there are lots of other measures up for consideration. Reynolds said there should be changes to the Area Education Agencies system that regionally provide specialty services to individual school districts.
Her proposal would raise teacher starting salaries to $50,000, plus boost it to a minimum of $62,000 for those who have 12 years of service.
Regarding the state income tax, as 2024 began the top tax rate dropped to 5.7 percent, and it will switch to a flat tax regardless of income level in 2026. Reynolds proposes moving up the arrival of the flat income tax by two years to later this year, and dropping the rate from 3.9 percent up 3.65 percent.
As this plays out as Republicans have a stranglehold on the reins of power, holding the governor position, and with strong majorities in both chambers.
We appreciate getting some perspectives on What’s The Frequency from Northwest Iowa lawmakers, with State Rep. Jacob Bossman, a Republican from Sioux City, and State Rep. J.D. Scholten, a Democrat from Sioux City.
Click on the audio link above to hear the entire show.
*What's The Frequency, Episode 3.
