(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa lawmakers are continuing conversations surrounding Supplemental State Aid as school districts now have under a month to meet their budget deadlines. Earlier this session, the Iowa House passed their proposed package which calls for a 2.25% increase in funding, and also includes additional one-time funding. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Senate, however, want a flat 2% increase. House Speaker Pat Grassley says his caucus is standing firm.
“We do feel that there are some parts of that package that can really benefit our school districts,” Grassley says. “That’s why we continue to be kind of in this stalemate is because we’re hopeful that at some point in time some of those things will be at least considered as part of the conversation.”
While Democrats were originally pushing for a 5% increase, their concerns have shifted to the timeline. State Sen. Janice Weiner (D-Iowa City) is the upper chamber’s minority leader.
“It’s been another week of debate here at the Capitol and another week without a school funding bill,” Weiner says. “It appears, frankly, that it’s really not a priority…and we know that when they want to they are capable of moving a bill through quickly.”
School districts have until April 15 to finalize their budgets and submit them to the state. They were required to set a public hearing for proposals by last weekend.
