Iowa’s budget increased cumulatively less than pop+inf in state funds but more than pop+inf in all funds from 2016-25.

  • The 2025 state funds budget is $305 million higher than it would have had spending grown at the rate of population growth plus inflation over the past decade.
  • Because the state funds budget grew slower than population growth plus inflation for much of the last ten years, the state spent $4.4 billion less than possible.
  • The 2025 all funds budget is $3.0 billion higher than it would have been had spending grown at the rate of population growth plus inflation over the past decade.
  • Because the all funds budget grew faster than population growth plus inflation over the past decade, the state spent $14.7 billion too much.

State Funds Budget Data

  • Estimated FY 2026 Only State Funds Budget ($ Billions): $ 22.75
  • FY 2027 Only State Funds Budget Limit ($ Billions): $ 23.51
  • FY 2027 Only State Funds Budget Limit Growth (%): 3.36%
  • Cost per person of only state funds budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade in 2025 budget: $ 5,006
  • Cost per family of 4 of only state funds budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade in 2025 budget: $ 94
  • Cumulative cost per person of only state funds budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade from 2016-25: $ (1,373)
  • Cumulative cost per family of 4 of only state funds budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade from 2016-25: $ (5,493)

All Funds Budget Data

  • Estimated FY 2026 All Funds Budget ($ Billions): $ 34.03
  • FY 2027 All Funds Budget Limit ($ Billions): $ 35.17
  • FY 2027 All Funds Budget Limit Growth (%): 3.4%
  • Cost per person of all funds budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade in 2025 budget: $ 6,895
  • Cost per family of 4 of all funds budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade in 2025 budget: $ 937
  • Cumulative cost per person of all funds budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade from 2016-25: $ 4,545
  • Cumulative cost per family of 4 of all funds budgeting more than pop+inf over the last decade from 2016-25: $ 18,178

Other Economic and Fiscal Considerations