Impact of the End of the 27-Cent Levy for Iowa Libraries and Museums

For decades, Iowa communities voted on a special levy of up to 27 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation to specifically support public libraries (Iowa Code 384.12(20)) and cultural and scientific facilities (Iowa Code 384.12(4)). Voters passed these levies at regular elections and became an essential part of the operating budgets for over 90 public libraries and several museums across Iowa.

In 2023, the Iowa Legislature passed House File 718 (HF718), which eliminated the local authority to levy these special funds. The levies were consolidated into a new Adjusted City General Fund Levy (ACGFL). This change stripped away the dedicated, voter-approved funding streams, and now cities must fund libraries and museums from their general budgets without any legal requirement to maintain the previously voter-directed support.

A new report from the EveryLibrary Institute shows that:

• Over 90% of affected libraries and museums are at risk of budget cuts before the end of the 5-year sunset period.

• Many libraries report cuts of 10–30% to their operating budgets.

• Museums are experiencing even steeper impacts, with some losing 40–90% of their funding.

• Communities are seeing reductions in hours, staff layoffs, cancelled programming, deferred maintenance, and, in some cases, planning for closures.

Read the ELI 2025 report, "Forecasting Closures Across Iowa Public Libraries
and Museums: Assessing the Impact of HF718 and the End of .27 Cent Local Levies."

Smaller towns and rural communities are being hit hardest, where even modest funding cuts threaten the very survival of local institutions. The 27-cent levies were approved by voters through the democratic process. HF718 effectively voided dozens of lawful local elections without offering a path for reauthorization. No new vote was held to remove the levies; they were simply invalidated through legislative action. 

What Needs to Happen?

EveryLibrary is joining a group of dedicated Iowa library and museum stakeholders calling on the Iowa Legislature to fix the HF718 problem during this legislative session. We want to amplify the message that Speaker Grassley and the legislature must restore and rededicate funding to libraries and museums that had their 27-cent levies eliminated, prevent cities from diverting the restored funding to other purposes, provide a permanent solution within the property tax system to ensure long-term financial stability, and respect prior elections and not require communities to "re-vote" on levies they already lawfully passed.

Add your voice to this campaign by sending a message to your state Senator and Representative today. The Legislature needs to repair the damage caused by HF718, not by adding temporary patches but by restoring dedicated, voter-approved support for Iowa's libraries and museums.

Send a message to your Iowa State Legislators to
Fix the HF718 Funding Problem for Libraries and Museums