Data released by Governor Terry Branstad’s office from the Iowa Department of Revenue shows Iowa counties received approximately $127.33 million in property tax relief the 2013 assessment year. Senate File 295 which was signed into law in 2013 created a tax reduction for all classes of property and changed the school finance formula so allowable growth is replaced by state aid. In 2013, in Washington County, the state provided $366,688.28 in backfill to the county and $412,962.46 in tax credits to taxpayers for a total of nearly $780,000 in tax relief. The backfill is state funds paid to the counties to ensure there was not a loss in revenue from the property tax reduction.

County – State backfill to counties; State tax credit to taxpayers – total State tax relief to county
Henry – $361,555.02; $365,213.62 – $726,768.64
Iowa – $253,941.35; $249,130.79 – $503,072.14
Jefferson – $277,651.96; $359,687.20 – $637,339.16
Johnson – $4,767,839.14; $1,247,539.95 – $6,015,379.09
Keokuk – $94,793.65; $226,666.15 – $321,459.80
Louisa – $92,668.54; $147,008.31 – $239,676.85
Washington – $366,688.28; $412,962.46 – $779,650.74