Taxes

Voters in three of eastern Iowa’s largest cities will see a question about a Local Option Sales Tax on their ballots this November. If approved, the revenue generated by the tax would fund affordable housing and various capital improvement projects in Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty.

Iowa will have to dip further into its reserves to cover a larger budget gap than expected as federal tax changes add to the impact of state tax cuts. Republican leaders say they have saved enough money to pay the state's bills, while Democrats say the majority party is mismanaging the state's finances.

The Des Moines metro's regional transit network introduced a major redesign of its bus routes, with a new focus on high frequency, local routes in denser parts of the metro. The scaled back services are aimed at cutting back on a projected budget deficit.

Voters in Senate District 1 will cast their ballots Tuesday for either Democrat Catelin Drey or Republican Christopher Prosch.

Strained budgets, tax reform and the trickle down from changing federal policy are a few of the themes surrounding Midwestern state legislatures this year.

High valuations in recent years have increased the burden of property taxes on homeowners. Still, opponents argue that efforts to reform property taxes could harm services citizens rely on and take away local power.

Iowa businesses would pay less in unemployment taxes under a bill that advanced through a Senate committee Tuesday.

While filling out state taxes, Iowans have the option of contributing to the Fish/Wildlife Fund – also known as the Chickadee Checkoff. It provides funding to the DNR to support habitat restoration and to monitor and research non-game wildlife, like songbirds and bumblebees.

Ben Kieffer dives into major headlines from the week, including higher educations and property taxes at the legislature, new safety recommendations for carbon pipelines, wildfire relief efforts and more.

Lawmakers discuss priorities of both parties and chambers, including property taxes, cell phones in schools and Medicaid work requirements