Author: Yorke Prough

On December 20^th, 2023, at approximately 12:31 pm, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a two-vehicle collision in the 200 block of Main Street in Salem. An investigation into the collision determined a 2016 Chrysler Town & Country, driven by Mercedes Ellard, 31, of Fairfield, was travelling northbound on Main Street and at the same time a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox, driven by Michael Woll, 20, of Salem, was travelling east on W Van Buren Street. The Woll vehicle failed to yield at a stop sign and drove out in front of the Ellard vehicle causing a collision. The occupants of both vehicles were uninjured.

The damage to the Woll vehicle was estimating to be $8,000 rendering it disabled and the damage to the Ellard vehicle was estimated to be $6,000.

On December 19^th, 2023, at approximately 12:20 pm, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports of a single vehicle collision in the 3000 grid of Franklin Avenue. An investigation into the collision determined a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox, driven by Dawn Tomson, 54 of Salem, was traveling southbound on Franklin Avenue when the vehicle left the roadway. The vehicle crossed over northbound lane entering the east side ditch. The vehicle collided with the embankment of 300^th street and rolled onto its side. The occupant had to be removed by non-mechanical means and was transported to an area hospital.

The damage to the vehicle was estimated to be $10,000, rendering it to be a total loss. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Iowa State Patrol Commercial Motor Vehicle Unit, Salem Fire and Rescue, and the Henry County Health Center Ambulance.

A woman was arrested in Washington yesterday evening on a warrant around 9:30pm. 42 year old Carrie Paramo was arrested after a deputy received a report of a violation of a no contact order. Upon arrival, the deputy found Paramo and arrested her on a warrant for violation of a court order. She was also charged at that time with Contempt – Violation of a No Contact Order. Paramo was transported to the Washington County Jail, where her warrant was cleared from the system and she was transported to the hospital.

The 2023 Wise Men Holiday Food Drive at the Keokuk High School was a great success and the organizers reached their goal. Because of this success students earned the prize of be allowed to decorate the smooth and shiny heads of Mr. Nathan Harrison, KHS principal, Mr. Matt McGhghy, KHS teacher, and Mr. Tim Carter, KHS guidance counselor.

There were 850 cans donated in two weeks that will be sent to the Salvation Army and two cash donations of $500 each donated by Keokuk XII and First Christian Church Disciple Women’s Fellowship.

The annual food drive ran through Dec. 15 and was sponsored by Konnections, YLT, StuCo and Interact at KHS.

The results of a recent school calendar survey that included a four-day week option was shared at the meeting of the Keokuk Community School District Board of Education on Dec. 18 by Dr. Kathy Dinger, Superintendent of Keokuk Community School District.

“We were pleasantly surprised at the level of engagement we saw,” Dr. Dinger reported during Monday’s meeting.

The survey included a choice between a four-day week, both with and without a spring break, and a traditional five-day week, both with and without a spring break. The questions were based on feedback gathered from staff and parents in the district, and was distributed by email on Wednesday, Dec. 13, to over 300 staff members and nearly 1,200 parents with a closing date of Sunday, Dec. 17. More than 600 staff and parents responded to the survey.

Whether a parent or an employee, the favorite calendar option was the four-day week, with a spring break. Collectively, 229 of the 607 who responded chose this option. Overwhelmingly, the least favorite calendar option was the 5-day week, with no spring break, option with 226 respondents selecting this as their last choice.

As explained in the calendar survey, the four-day option is being considered as a way to recruit and retain staff, improve open enrollment numbers, and support student and employee mental health, all while maintaining a focus on strong instructional hours.

The conversation about the 2024-2025 calendar will continue at the Board’s meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

The price of regular unleaded gasoline rose 3 cents, averaging $2.85 across Iowa according to AAA.

Crude Oil Summary

• The price of global crude oil rose this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by $5.41 per barrel over last week, currently priced at $75.06.
• Brent crude oil rose $5.94 and is currently priced at $80.24.
• One year ago, WTI crude sold for $76.09 and Brent crude was at $79.45.

Motor Fuels

• As of Wednesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.85 across Iowa according to AAA.
  • Prices rose 3 cents from last week’s price and are steady from a year ago.
  • The national average on Wednesday was $3.10, down 2 cents from last week’s price.
• Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 12 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.73.
  • One year ago, diesel prices averaged $4.35 in Iowa.
  • The current Iowa diesel price is 30 cents lower than the national average of $4.03.
• Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16.
• The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $2.01 for U87-E10, $2.27 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $2.61 for ULSD#2, $2.91 for ULSD#1, and $1.86 per gallon for E-70 prices.

Heating Fuels

• Propane prices rose 1 cent with a statewide average of $1.56 per gallon.
• Home heating oil prices rose 2 cents, with a statewide average of $3.15 per gallon.
• Natural gas prices rose 17 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $2.51/MMbtu

Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov.

To the People of House District 95
There is no issue that I get more emails, texts, calls, or hear more about when knocking on voters doors than property taxes. Iowans expect certain public services but at a reasonable cost. Iowans understand they will have to pay some property related taxes, but they believe that amount should be within reason. The question really comes down to – so, what is reasonable?
What is Reasonable?
Many experts believe a reasonable property tax growth rate is one that is close to the combined percent change of inflation and population. Over the last twenty years Iowa has experienced an 8.8% growth in population, and inflation growth at 59.1% over that same period – for a combined reasonable growth rate of 67.9%. However, statewide property tax growth over that period instead has increased by 110.9%, more than doubling property taxpayers bills.

I thought I would take the time dive into the state of property taxes in SE Iowa, particularly the four counties which I represent, as well as four cities in my district with which data is available. As for your county property taxes, they will vary depending on whether you live in a rural area or not, so I decided to focus on the Total County-Wide levies specifically, or those that every county resident pays, regardless of whether you live in town or outside the city limits.
Iowa’s County-Wide Levies
Average General Basic Levy: $3.78478
Average Pioneer Cemetery Levy: $0.00272
Average General Support Levy: $1.91730
Average Debt Service Levy: $0.43138
Average Total County-Wide: $6.17471

As you can see above, the typical county-wide levies include the general basic levy, pioneer cemetery levy, general support levy, and the debt service levy. After the legislature allowed for an EMS specific levy a couples of years ago, some counties have elected to levy for that as well – but none of the counties I represent / analyzed currently have an EMS specific levy, so I did not include it in my analysis.
Muscatine County
General Basic Levy: $3.50000
Pioneer Cemetery Levy: $0.00000
General Support Levy: $2.50000
Debt Service Levy: $0.49289
Total County-Wide: $6.49289

Statewide Ranking: Muscatine County’s total county-wide levy is above the statewide average. Muscatine County ranks 61st out of 99 when it comes to the lowest county wide property taxes in the state.

Over the last ten years Muscatine County has experienced a population growth of -1.5%, and inflation of 30.8% – meaning reasonable property tax growth over that period should be about 29.3%. However, Muscatine County has only seen property tax growth of 15.2%. Experts would say this is reasonable – in fact, property taxes are growing at 14.1% slower than the combined growth of population and inflation.
Des Moines County
General Basic Levy: $3.60000
Pioneer Cemetery Levy: $0.01635
General Support Levy: $1.68000
Debt Service Levy: $1.52236
Total County-Wide: $6.81871

Statewide Ranking: Des Moines County’s total county-wide levy is above the statewide average. Des Moines County ranks 75th out of 99 when it comes to the lowest county wide property taxes in the state.

Over the last ten years Des Moines County has experienced a population growth of -6.6%, and inflation of 30.8% – meaning reasonable property tax growth over that period should be about 24.2%. However, Des Moines County has only seen property tax growth of 13.5%. Experts would say this is reasonable – in fact, property taxes are growing at 10.7% slower than the combined growth of population and inflation.
Louisa County
General Basic Levy: $4.56193
Pioneer Cemetery Levy: $0.00000
General Support Levy: $2.38727
Debt Service Levy: $0.00000
Total County-Wide: $6.94920

Statewide Ranking: Louisa County’s total county-wide levy is above the statewide average. Louisa County ranks 76th out of 99 when it comes to the lowest county wide property taxes in the state.

Over the last ten years Louisa County has experienced a population growth of -6.0%, and inflation of 30.8% – meaning reasonable property tax growth over that period should be about 24.8%. However, Louisa County has seen property tax growth of 29.1%. Experts would say this is unreasonable due to the fact that taxes are increasing 4.2% faster than the combined growth of population and inflation.
Henry County
General Basic Levy: $4.83000
Pioneer Cemetery Levy: $0.03000
General Support Levy: $3.00000
Debt Service Levy: $0.90252
Total County-Wide: $8.76252

Statewide Ranking: Henry County’s total county-wide levy is above the statewide average. Henry County ranks 94th of out of 99 when it comes to the lowest county wide property taxes in the state, or in other words, has the fifth highest county wide property taxes in the state.

Over the last ten years Henry County has experienced a population growth of 0.8%, and inflation of 30.8% – meaning reasonable property tax growth over that period should be about 31.6%. However, Henry County seen property tax growth of 41.5%. Experts would say this is totally unreasonable due to the fact that taxes are increasing 9.9% faster than the combined growth of population and inflation.
Iowa’s City Levies
Average General Levy: $7.80401
Average Outside Levy: $1.59282
Average Emergency Levy: $0.13117
Average Debt Service Levy: $1.20467
Average Employee Benefits Levy: $1.59131
Average Total Levy: $12.33984

As you can see, the typical levies for cities include the general levy, outside levy, emergency levy, debt service levy, and the employee benefits levy. The only one I did not include in my analysis is the capital improvement levy since none of the cities I analyzed have utilized this specific levy.
Mediapolis
General Levy: $8.10000
Outside Levy: $0.97016
Emergency Levy: $0.27000
Debt Service Levy: $0.00000
Employee Benefits Levy: $2.16636
Total Levy: $11.50652

Statewide Ranking: Mediapolis’s total levy is below the statewide average.

Over the last ten years Mediapolis has experienced a population growth of 5.5% and inflation of 30.8% – meaning reasonable property tax growth over that period should be about 36.3%. However, Mediapolis has only seen property tax growth of 15%. Experts would say this is reasonable – in fact, property taxes are growing 21.4% slower than the combined growth of population and inflation.
Columbus Junction
General Levy: $7.54540
Outside Levy: $1.05310
Emergency Levy: $0.27000
Debt Service Levy: $0.48436
Employee Benefits Levy: $3.33589
Total Levy: $12.68875

Statewide Ranking: Columbus Junction’s total levy is above the statewide average.

Over the last ten years Columbus Junction has experienced a population growth of -3.9% and inflation of 30.8% – meaning reasonable property tax growth over that period should be about 26.9%. However, Columbus Junction has only seen property tax growth of 22%. Experts would say this is reasonable – in fact, property taxes are growing 4.9% slower than the combined growth of population and inflation.
Wapello
General Levy: $8.10000
Outside Levy: $1.52223
Emergency Levy: $0.27000
Debt Service Levy: $2.25768
Employee Benefits Levy: $1.90072
Total Levy: $14.05063

Statewide Ranking: Wapello’s total levy is above the statewide average.

Over the last ten years Wapello has experienced a population growth of -0.9% and inflation of 30.8% – meaning reasonable property tax growth over that period should be about 29.9%. However, Wapello has seen property tax growth of 34.7%. Experts would say this is unreasonable due to the fact that taxes are increasing 4.8% faster than the combined growth of population and inflation.
New London
General Levy: $8.10000
Outside Levy: $0.60914
Emergency Levy: $0.00000
Debt Service Levy: $0.00000
Employee Benefits Levy: $3.91744
Total Levy: $12.62658

Statewide Ranking: New London’s total levy is above the statewide average.

Over the last ten years New London has experienced a population growth of -0.1% and inflation of 30.8% – meaning reasonable property tax growth over that period should be about 30.7%. However, New London has seen property tax growth of 35.9%. Experts would say this is unreasonable due to the fact that taxes are increasing 5.2% faster than the combined growth of population and inflation.
Putting the Taxpayer First
Iowa’s property tax problem is not caused by high assessments, but rather government spending. This year’s property tax reform bill was considered a good first step by many in addressing a complex tax system that most taxpayers do not like nor understand. This year we deliberately changed the focus on property tax reform from ensuring local government budgets were protected to making sure the local property taxpayers’ budget were protected. It is worth pointing out that the legislation passed both chambers with only one “no” vote and minimal controversy.

Recently, an Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation poll found that 67% of Iowans surveyed support the legislature establishing limits on how much a local government can tax and spend in order to control the growth of property taxes. That included 79% of Republicans, 70% of Independents, and even 46% of Democrats.

Finally, my thanks again to Iowans for Tax Relief for compiling all the data that I used in this newsletter which can be found on their new ITR Local Website. For information about property taxes for not only your county and city but also your school district, you can visit their website at itrlocal.org.

Sincerely,

Rep. Taylor Collins

The letter with graphs: https://mailchi.mp/94fcc55ae0e7/collinscapitolconnection-12669181?e=e3a27d654b&fbclid=IwAR1TSpononUAyQYJMrnlMVtx1bFXLYjuPFJwsUh8Z_R6creHxLFXwYkri10_aem_AVZezJPyOKSVAdFMIUJgKvRXCa3u_wi47d5rBIGY9Aw8M9CZwuksxky7NkoTpkH1ZkE

Mount Pleasant High School is proud to announce the November/December 2023 Students of Character, Tucker French, Alexandra Murphy and Jayden Ullrich. These students have demonstrated Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. Students are nominated by the MPCHS faculty each month. If you see these students at school or in the community, please tell them to keep up the good work! We are Panther Proud of you all!

#GoPanthers #PantherProud