(Greenfield) Iowa Senate Republicans have criticized House Republicans for balking on the governor’s plan for the state to take over mental health care costs to provide some relief on property taxes.
Greenfield Republican Representative Ray Sorensen says the House is interested in moving the cost of mental health care off property taxes. However, He says there are many questions and concerns with the bill in its’ current form.
“If we implement that change, it needs to be done right with the proper guardrails to assure the state’s fiscal stability,” said Sorensen. “The tax change would eliminate the property tax backfill, and taking on new expense to the state budget without any guardrails to control the cost.
“We’re hearing from city leaders opposed to losing that backfill,” said Sorensen. “There is a lot of questions and how we’re going to pay for it.”
Some Iowa senate lawmakers point toward the skyrocketing real estate market leading to higher tax assessments. They say moving the mental health tax away from property taxes would provide some relief.
