Proposals limiting property tax growth passed in both the state House and Senate last week, sparking backlash from some Iowa mayors and other local officials.

The Senate’s proposal advanced out of committee with Republican support after several mayors warned lawmakers this could have unintended consequences and slow growth in the state. The Senate’s bill caps revenue increase at 3% each year, and if they want to increase it by more than 2%, residents have the choice of petitioning for a referendum to reject that growth. The House bill does not cap revenue growth at 3%, but does also allow residents to petition a referendum for increases above 2%.

District 20 Representative Ray Sorensen (R) disagrees with opponents of these proposals that it could infringe on infrastructure needs, “All we’re trying to do is say, ‘Listen, here’s the reasonable growth at 2%. If you guys want to go beyond that, inform the public, let the people vote, and if it’s a need, it’s an infrastructure need, if it’s whatever need then you can go above it.’”

The House bill also says local governments can’t carry more than 25% of their general fund into the next budget year, which differs from the Senate’s version. You can hear more from Sorensen in today’s Let’s Talk Guthrie County program on air and online at raccoonvalleyradio.com.