New wrinkle in Iowa budget debate: they disagree on next year, too

DES MOINES - The long legislative bout over how much funding the state should send Iowa schools might go an extra round or two.

House Republicans filed legislation Tuesday that would increase funding to K-12 public schools by 2 percent for the school year that starts in fall 2016.

That is less than proposals made by Senate Democrats at 4 percent and Republican Gov. Terry Branstad at 2.45 percent.

It is even less than a bill proposed earlier this year by House Republicans themselves: They originally matched the governor's proposal of a 2.45 percent increase.

'That's not something we're willing to agree to,” Democratic Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal said of the new proposal.

Lawmakers already are mired in a monthslong dispute over funding for the coming school year. Republicans have proposed a 1.25 percent increase, while Democrats have lowered their initial proposal of 6 percent to 2.625 percent.

A compromise being considered essentially would equate to a 2.625 percent increase for the coming year, with 1.25 percent going into the budget baseline for the following year.

The school funding impasse is a large reason state budget negotiations are stalled.

Disagreement over the second year of school funding promises to be just as stark.

'We thought the governor's number was inadequate, and we've already passed 4 percent,” Gronstal said. 'Coming in at the governor's inadequate level wasn't likely. And coming in under the governor's inadequate level is less likely.”

Republican Rep. Chuck Soderberg, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said House Republicans lowered their second-year proposal to reflect reduced revenue estimates and the potential economic impact of the bird flu that is wreaking havoc with Iowa's poultry and turkey industries.

'We want to make sure that we don't overcommit and under-deliver,” Soderberg said.

Despite the impasse, legislative leaders from both parties and Branstad have stated their desire to pass two years of school funding this session.

A second year of school funding negotiations to the mix could make for an even bigger budget challenge.

Top legislative leaders have been holding private meetings almost daily in an effort to reach agreement on key budget figures. They met again Tuesday, but leaders did not announce any developments.

Also Tuesday, House Republicans started their work on the Legislature's catchall spending bill.

Senators already passed their version of the bill, which included about $3.5 billion in spending on various programs and projects, plus dozens of policy items.

Republicans stripped out most of the policy language. Their bill appropriates about $3.4 billion, according to House Republican staff.

House Republicans expect to debate and vote on the bill Wednesday.