A new report released by the Associated General Contractors of America shows employment gains in Iowa’s construction industry. There was a four percent increase in the number of construction-related jobs in Iowa this June compared to the same month a year ago. The group also analyzed data from the nation’s top metropolitan areas. It found construction employment jumped nine percent in the Des Moines metro and six percent in Cedar Rapids during that 12-month period.

The Associated General Contractors of America is the trade association for the construction industry. The group’s chief economist says there’s growth in construction in about two-thirds of the country, while construction job losses are being recorded in states like New Jersey, West Virginia and Arizona. Missouri was the only neighboring state to record job losses in construction — the decline there was just one percent. Minnesota had the largest jump in construction jobs in the region — an eight percent increase in June of this year compared to June of last year.

Metro areas on Iowa’s borders saw little to no growth in construction employment during the period. There was a one percent increase in construction jobs in the Quad Cities during the period, while the report found no construction job gains in the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa’s tax climate ranks among the worst in the nation according to a new report released by the “Future of Iowa Foundation.” The group is a subsidiary of the Iowa Taxpayers Association and its report ranks Iowa’s overall tax system 40th out of the 50 states. Iowa Taxpayers Association president Dustin Blythe says members of his organization will meet August 19th to start a conversation about how to improve that ranking.

“Trying to come up with a broad-based tax reform agenda,” Blythe says. One reaon Iowa’s overall tax system ranks so low is because the state’s sales tax is so high. A two percent sales tax was first imposed in Iowa in 1934. It has tripled since then, to six percent.  “What we actually have subject to tax from what we had subject to tax in 1970 to now has almost gone from 70 percent down to 30,” Blythe says, “which means your sales tax rate has to go up if you’re taxing (fewer and fewer) items.” The group’s report also says the tax has to go up because there are fewer people in Iowa — a net loss of more than 60,000 people over the last 20 years. In addition, Iowa has the nation’s highest corporate income tax and the state’s top personal income tax rate is nearly nine percent.

“Obviously the high rates, at least on paper, give us the appearance that we’re uncompetitve on a national scale,” Blythe says. Iowans are able to deduct their federal income tax bill from their income before calculating how much they owe in state income taxes. It makes Iowa’s income taxes appear far higher. Republicans, though, have resisted efforts to get rid of that deduction, which is only allowed in five other states, arguing it would be a tax on a tax. Blythe says his group is open to the idea of getting rid of that deduction, but only if the move is part of “comprehensive” reform of the state’s entire tax system.

(Radio Iowa)

Anyone who needs to do back-to-school shopping for clothes and shoes will save money if they go this Friday or Saturday, thanks to Iowa’s annual Sales Tax Holiday. Kay Arvidson, spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Revenue, explains how the 15th annual tax holiday works. “It begins at the stroke of midnight Friday and runs until midnight on Saturday,” Arvidson says. “It’s always the first Friday and Saturday of August. People can make purchases of clothing and footwear and they do not have to pay sales tax or local option tax on those purchases.” She says there are a few stipulations about buying items free from taxes during the two-day event.

Arvidson says, “This relates to items that cost less than $100 and there is a detailed list on our website at iowa.gov/tax that gives you some ideas about the items that are and are not taxable.” She offers a few examples of items in the gray area that may confuse shoppers.  Arvidson says, “Jewelry is taxable but certain items of clothing like bowties or blouses or boots, bowling shirts, uniforms, those sorts of things are not taxable.”

In 2012, retailers statewide reported nearly 15-million dollars in sales during the tax holiday. When multiplied by the six-percent tax rate, that’s a savings to consumers of about 887-thousand dollars.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Surveys show about 18 percent of adults in Iowa smoke regularly, but less than half that percentage acknowledge smoking when signing up for insurance with federally mandated forms. The Des Moines Register reports when Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield used federally required language to ask applicants about their tobacco use, only 7 percent acknowledged smoking.

The Affordable Care Act doesn’t allow insurers to charge more for customers with many health problems, but it allows higher fees for regular tobacco users. CoOportunity Health, which also uses the tobacco language on its application forms, imposes a 49 percent surcharge on smokers in its individual insurance policies.

Only 5 percent of applicants acknowledge smoking, and CoOportunity chief operating office Cliff Gold says he’s surprised the percentage isn’t lower, given the charge.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an accident this (Wednesday) morning in the southern part of the county resulted in minor injuries. Authorities say deputies responded to a single-vehicle accident on 590th Street, about one-quarter of a mile north of Yankton Road, at around 8:20-a.m. A 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 20-year old Taylor Michelle Watson, of Griswold, was northbound on Yankton Road when Watson lost control of the car, which entered the west ditch and hit a utility pole.  Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $5,000.