A special investigation by the state auditor's office has identified $130,000 in spending in a central Iowa school district that was "not in the best interest of taxpayers." Auditors reviewed three-and-a-half years worth of records, flagging nearly $28,000 spent on furniture for the … [Read more...]
IRS says email scams are up dramatically this year
The Internal Revenue Service is highlighting the importance of keeping your tax information safe this week. IRS spokesman, Christopher Miller says "National Tax Security Awareness Week" is especially important based on the trend this year. "We're seeing a large increase in bogus email and … [Read more...]
Under limited conditions, GOP could raise state sales tax in 2019
Two key Republicans in the Iowa Legislature say they're willing to consider a hike in the state sales tax, if it's coupled with cuts in other state taxes. Iowa voters in 2010 approved creation of a state fund to pay for water improvement and outdoor recreation projects, but the legislature has … [Read more...]
State official says as ‘tax nerd,’ she sees good stuff in new tax laws
The director of the Iowa Department of Revenue says she's living through a thrilling, "once in a lifetime" experience. An exuberant Courtney Kay-Decker stood in the governor's office Monday morning to deliver a briefing. "I love 'Hamilton,' so every now and then I feel like I'm going to break into … [Read more...]
Iowa school board members set priority list for next legislative session
School board members from across Iowa talked about their priorities for the upcoming legislative session at the Association of School Boards annual convention in Des Moines last week. IASB lobbyist Emily Piper says one priority is extending the one cent infrastructure tax. Another is making the … [Read more...]
German firm plans to make ‘renewable’ natural gas in Iowa
Officials have awarded state tax breaks to a European company that plans to open a biofuels plant at the site of a closed ethanol production facility near Nevada. VERBIO is based in Germany. The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board has approved state tax benefits in support of the company's … [Read more...]
Grassley opts to lead Finance, not Judiciary Committee in 2019
Senator Chuck Grassley is giving up the gavel in one U.S. Senate committee, planning to lead another panel that deals with tax and trade policy. Grassley has been chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee since 2015. Grassley announced today he wants to lead the Senate Finance Committee when … [Read more...]
Reynolds reflects on what’s ahead in first full term as governor
Governor Kim Reynolds this morning said she has just started thinking about personnel changes in state government and the policy agenda she'll ask her fellow Republican lawmakers to pass in 2019. "We're starting to do all of that right now," Reynolds said. "I didn't want to get ahead of myself. … [Read more...]
Leading candidates for governor throw ‘more money’ accusations at one another
Just eight days remain until Election Day, so candidates and their supporters spent the weekend chasing down absentee ballots and claiming momentum is on their side. A crowd at the Scott County Republican Party headquarters in Davenport greeted Governor Kim Reynolds Saturday morning and she asked … [Read more...]
Campaign Countdown: three-way race for state treasurer
The state officeholder who is in charge of receiving, investing and distributing state funds is seeking re-election to a 10th term. State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald, a Democrat, has the longest tenure among state treasurers who're currently serving. If Iowans reelect him this November, early … [Read more...]