DES MOINES - Terry Branstad and Kim Reynolds blame Governor Culver for raising property taxes when the reality is that neither Branstad nor Reynolds, when given the chance, fought to keep property taxes low.
"Branstad and Reynolds can't hide from their records. When Kim Reynolds had the chance, she voted to make property taxes higher. When Branstad was Governor, he cooked the books and raised taxes on hard working Iowans time and time again," said Culver/Judge Communications Director Ali Glisson.
As Governor, Branstad cooked the books for years. A consequence of cooking the books was that Branstad had to pay school aid late, causing property taxes to increase.
"Property taxes increased under Branstad because he recklessly cooked the books and hid the truth about the budget from Iowans. Branstad is just trying to distract from his record of dishonest budgeting by attacking Governor Culver," Glisson said.
In the last budget, total school aid increased by 6.4% despite the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Governor Culver has kept his commitment, even during tough economic times, to fund education. The decision to raise taxes was made by local school boards, not by the Governor or the Legislature.
"Unlike Branstad, Governor Culver worked with the Legislature requesting that school districts spend down their reserves instead of raising taxes. While Governor Culver was fighting to keep property taxes low, Branstad's own running mate voted against it," said Glisson.
Branstad's own Lt. Governor nominee Kim Reynolds voted not to spend down the cash-reserves - which would have made the property tax situation much worse. [House File 2030]
Further, Reynolds voted against the 2010 Standings Bill, which provided additional education funding. Without that funding, school districts would have raised property taxes even more, laid off more teachers, and increased class sizes dramatically. [House File 2531]
"This is another example of do as I say, not as I do with the Branstad campaign. Branstad is chastising Chet Culver even though Branstad knows that property taxes went up because of his reckless budgeting and now Reynolds, his own Lt. Governor nominee, voted to make it worse," Glisson said.
BACKGROUND
Delaying of State Aid to Schools Caused Property Taxes to Rise. The Des Moines Register reported in June 1991 that, "To repay the loans, the state is delaying the payment of other bills such as aid to schools and payments to state universities. When the state delays aid payments to schools, districts often cut programs or borrow money themselves, which increases property taxes." [Des Moines Register, 6/19/91]