Property taxes divide Republicans, Democrats

Candidates voice opinions at forum

Changes in Iowa's property tax system that were approved in the waning hours of this year's legislative session were supported by Republican candidates and criticized by their Democratic opponents during a Tuesday evening forum in Fort Dodge.

Republican state representatives Ann Meyer, of Fort Dodge and Wendy Larson, of Odebolt, supported the changes.

Their Democratic challengers, Kris Williams, of Fort Dodge, and Rachel Burns, of Odebolt, were opposed to them.

The candidates also split along party lines over the state's Education Savings Accounts which enable parents to use state money to enroll their children in private schools. Meyer and Larson supported them; Williams and Burns did not.

However, all four candidates were united in opposing the use of eminent domain to acquire land for a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline.

About 45 people attended the forum in the Bioscience and Health Sciences Building at Iowa Central Community College. The forum was sponsored by the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance and the college.

Early in the forum, the candidates were asked if they would change anything in the property tax law, which among other things imposed a 2 percent cap on the growth of property tax revenue.

Williams said he was very disappointed in a revenue cap with no flexibility.

He called the property tax law "a decision made for headlines."

"It felt like it really didn't solve much," he said.

Meyer, who is seeking her fifth term, said the property tax change was not the result of a "fast and flashy" decision.

She traced the origin of the new law back about five years, when the state eliminated a levy of 39 cents per $1,000 of taxable value that counties used to pay for mental health programs. At that time the state government assumed full responsibility for funding mental health programs.

But according to Meyer, even after the 39 cents levy was gone, property taxes in Webster County went up.

"We're not here to support local governments, we're here to support our local property tax payers and they're telling us their taxes are too high," Meyer said.

She said property tax payers will realize savings from the law within six years.

Larson said voters need to be talking to city councils, school boards and county supervisors about property taxes. She said when state government tries to address an issue like property taxes it invariably uses a one-size fits all approach.

"Those don't lay out very nicely,” she said.

Burns said she believes the property tax law has put local governments in a "more desperate position than maybe they previously were."

Burns said that in rural counties the use of Education Savings Accounts to enroll students in private schools results in that money going out of the counties to places that have private schools.

She said she believes it is time to start "sunsetting" the program.

Larson said she believes ESAs are "working extremely well."

Meyer said she believes the ESA program should remain as is, while Willams said "basic accountability" needs to be added.

County recorder

The candidates for Webster County recorder presented their qualifications for the job during the final moments of the forum.

The candidates are Democratic incumbent Courtney Bender Balkenende and Republican Tina Eldal.

Balkenende said she was a clerk in the recorder's office for two and a half years and was the deputy recorder for six and half years. She said the deputy recorder must learn all roles performed by the recorder.

She was appointed to be the recorder by the Board of Supervisors on July 29, 2025, to replace Lindsay Laufersweiler, who took a job in the private sector,

"On my first day as recorder I had six and half years of experience and it was business as usual," she said.

Eldal said her approach to the job would be based on her 29 years of experience in the county auditor's office and her service in the Army. She said in the auditor's offices, she works with many of the same documents that the recorder does.'

"I have a deep commitment to my work and to the public," she said.