Budget pressure from the Iowa Legislature is pushing Des Moines-area governments to consider deeper service-sharing, from emergency dispatch to IT, Polk County Supervisors Chair Matt McCoy tells Axios.

Why it matters: Without new savings or revenue streams, local governments will be unable to provide the same level of services.

Driving the news: The Taxpayers Association of Central Iowa's (TACI) annual meeting next week will revisit a politically fraught question for central Iowa: When does government consolidation make sense?

Catch up quick: State lawmakers have repeatedly narrowed county and city budget flexibility over the last decade.

• In 2013, Iowa cut commercial and industrial property taxes and created "backfill" payments to reduce the losses to local governments, which will end in about four years.
• In 2023, Iowa created new city and county levy limits, changed budget and notice requirements, added "truth in taxation" mailings and imposed more limits on bonding.

The latest: The Legislature ended its 2026 session on Sunday, sending Gov. Kim Reynolds a property tax bill that would cap most city and county general-levy revenue growth at 2% starting in 2027 — below the U.S. annual inflation rate since 2021.

• It also tightens tax increment financing rules, which redirect future property tax growth to fund public improvements or development incentives.

Behind the scenes: Regional leaders are exploring whether a central entity could better manage the trail system, including the shared use of equipment for snow removal and maintenance.

• Some cities, including DSM and West Des Moines, could eliminate their entire IT staff and outsource those services to the county.
• Discussions are also underway about whether the metro's three primary emergency dispatch systems in DSM, WDM and the county could be consolidated, McCoy said.

Reality check: Voters are unlikely to support merging Polk County or any of its 18 city governments, Kurt Thurmaier, a Northern Illinois University professor who studies city-county consolidations, tells Axios.

• Residents generally don't want to give up local control or elected representation, he said.
• Thurmaier will speak at next week's TACI meeting.

State of play: Metro voters rejected major local consolidation proposals in 1994 and 2004 by roughly 2-to-1 margins.

• Legislators and Reynolds' DOGE team have not backed proposals to merge Iowa's 99 county governments.

What's next: TACI's annual meeting starts at 4pm Tuesday at the Greater DSM Botanical Garden. For reservations, email: [email protected]

Microsoft, GGP Retail and R&R Realty Group have been the three largest water users in West Des Moines for the last five years, per West Des Moines Water Works.

Why it matters: Central Iowa water utility leaders warned this week that another irrigation ban may occur if a dry spell happens this summer.

State of play: Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW) is asking businesses and residents to conserve their lawn watering now to help ensure there's enough clean water for everyone this summer.

• A high level of nitrates this year resulted in CIWW activating its nitrate removal facility in the winter for the second time ever.
• High water demand this summer could exceed the facility's nitrate processing abilities.
• Over the last five years, the fourth-largest water user consumed roughly 45% as much as the third largest.

Context: Microsoft operates a data center campus in West Des Moines.

• GGP runs the Jordan Creek Town Center area, and R&R Realty owns and manages major commercial properties in the city.

What they're saying: Paul Rupprecht, executive vice president of R&R Realty, says the company's water usage is consistent with other commercial real estate companies.

• Rupprecht says the high water usage reflects the size of the company's property portfolio.
• "We recognize the importance of responsible water use and will follow any lawn irrigation restrictions or guidance issued by local authorities this summer," he said in a statement to Axios. "We will also continue to evaluate practical opportunities to support conservation efforts across our properties."

Zoom in: Microsoft's West Des Moines data centers can cool themselves using outside air for the majority of the year, a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement.

• When water is used for cooling, the company works with local utilities to ensure supply isn't strained, and it also complies with irrigation bans, per the statement.

A spokesperson for GGP did not respond to a request for comment.

Of note: The lawn watering ban in 2025 skewed that year's numbers, per a West Des Moines Water Works spokesperson.

🏒 The Des Moines Buccaneers' former hockey facility has officially closed, and there are no plans yet for its future use. (Des Moines Register)

🦬 A rare white bison calf was born at the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge. (WHO-13)

🏨 The Des Moines Embassy Club plans to expand and renovate its space inside the Ruan Tower. (Business Record)

❓Correctly guess Jason's location by 4pm today for a chance to win four tickets to a performance of your choice of "Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical," which premieres Friday, courtesy of the Des Moines Playhouse.

• Two winners will be announced in tomorrow's newsletter.

Cremations are now twice as common as burials in the U.S., reversing a norm from two decades ago, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.

Why it matters: Shifting attitudes around religion, cost and the environment are reshaping how Americans handle death.

By the numbers: Cremation surpassed burial nationwide in 2015 — and the gap has only widened since, with the NFDA projecting cremation will continue gaining share.

• In Iowa, the burial rate dropped from 42.3% in 2020 to 33.4% last year. The cremation rate increased from 56.6% to 58.1%.
• Burials also cost significantly more: In 2023, the median price of a casketed burial with viewing and ceremony was $8,300, compared with $2,750 for a direct cremation, according to NFDA data.

Stunning stat: By 2045, the cremation rate in Iowa is projected to be 85%, per the NFDA.

⚰️ 1 interesting thing to go: DSM recently launched this season's tours at Woodland and Glendale cemeteries.