Iowa Legislature’s school budget deal comes with strings

DES MOINES - Iowa's K-12 public schools will get roughly $106 million in increased general funding under a budget deal announced Monday by state lawmakers.

That's $28 million less than sought by education advocates and Statehouse Democrats.

'This agreement is neither a long-term solution to our school's financial needs nor adequate enough to cover program cuts, increased class sizes and outdated curricular issues that are plaguing our schools,” Iowa State Education Association President Tammy Wawro said in a statement.

The school funding proposal is a 1.25 percent increase over the previous year's funding, plus a one-time $55.7 million appropriation.

It is the rough equivalent of a 2.625 percent increase proposed by Statehouse Democrats as a compromise with Republicans. The difference is that 1.25 percent - or $50.2 million - goes into the school funding budget baseline for the ensuing fiscal year, not the one-time appropriation.

While he said he appreciates the one-time appropriation of $55.7 million, Cedar Rapids Community School District Superintendent David Benson said the deal, if passed, would make budgeting difficult because schools need the money for recurring expenses.

'In essence, that just kicks the can down the road one more year,” Benson said.

Democrats and education advocates originally proposed a 6 percent increase and then lowered it twice, first to 4 percent and then to 2.625 percent.

The funding also includes $50 million for the teacher leadership program that was a key component in 2013 education reforms.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said he does not believe the compromise puts enough state funding into K-12 public education, but he defended the plan as the best Democrats could do in a divided government.

'The people of Iowa sent a collection of people to this building. That collection of people has met and worked together and chose compromise over gridlock.” he said.

House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said the budget proposals fit within Republicans' philosophy of not spending more on ongoing expenses than the state takes in. He said they took a three-pronged approach, including cost containment through a collective bargaining bill and some budgeting flexibility for schools.

'We've once again managed to balance ongoing revenue with ongoing expenses and meet the needs and priorities of Iowans,” Paulsen said.

Legislators did not include school spending for 2016-2017 in the deal, despite Gov. Terry Branstad's insistence.

Paulsen said he still hopes to accomplish that during this legislative session. Gronstal was less optimistic, saying the sides are far apart.

Senate Democrats have proposed a 4 percent increase for 2016-2017, the governor 2.45 percent and House Republicans 2 percent.

Andrew Phillips of The Gazette contributed to this report.