From the Desk of Sen. Celsi

Sen. Claire Celsi

Governor Reynolds Finally Gets a Clue!

Governor Reynolds is finally admitting what the rest of us already know. She is very ill- equipped to lead our state. She doesn’t have the background, the education, nor the wherewithal to know what she is doing. She does not have a moral compass, which is obvious after this brutal legislative session and was even more obvious when she refused to feed Iowa children in public schools.

What kind of priorities must she have to do such a thing? Governor Reynolds has had a ruinous effect on the people of Iowa and has insisted that the legislature go along with her horrible vision. It is plainly obvious that her lack of leadership has caused a disaster in our state. I look forward to working with our next governor to fix the damage she has caused.

Discussions Continue on Property Tax Changes

Senate Republicans have introduced a bill that would significantly overhaul the state’s property tax system. The bill, SSB 1227, is meant to address complexity and uncertainty for both taxpayers and local governments, including school districts. It proposes structural changes rather than focusing on any single issue at a time.

The bill is ambitious and clearly not a finished product. It has already been updated and changed from its original form, and we could yet see more changes. We are still awaiting data modeling that will help illuminate how the bill will affect our local communities.

Rising property taxes are an issue I hear about frequently from my constituents. I recognize the need to address this problem and am willing to work with the majority party on property tax reforms. What I’m not willing to see is another tax giveaway to corporations or the very wealthy. Any reforms need to target the middle class and allow our communities to continue to provide essential services, like public safety.

SSB 1227 includes positive changes from the previous version, and I’m thankful our communities and local stakeholders are providing critical input to help shape the bill. I encourage the majority party to continue bringing everyone to the table to discuss the real-world impacts of property tax reform and how any structural changes would affect all Iowa communities.

I’ll also note that due to this bill’s complexity, it may not move forward this year. I will keep you updated as it progresses.