Culver seeks funding boost for schools

DES MOINES – Gov. Chet Culver is calling on lawmakers in the closing weeks of the session to boost funding for Iowa schools by at least $347 million next year as districts face budget shortfalls.

A top legislative Democrat said they are matching Culver's level of funding, but are looking at a different funding source.

Culver has proposed dipping into the state's cash reserves for $100 million in school aid; legislative Democrats would use dollars from the state's general fund.

Under Culver's proposal, additional state aid would come in the form of a 2 percent increase in state aid known as “allowable growth” and federal stimulus dollars.

The money is expected to help fill steep across-the-board cuts in state funding Iowa schools saw last year.

Funding increases will go a long way to helping keep Iowa teachers employed, Culver said.

“I think it's important that we let the public know, let our constituents know, and in particular the school districts, that we hear their concerns loudly and clearly and that we are trying to be responsive to their needs at the local level,” Culver said.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said Democrats are “at the governor's number” and have been since Culver released his budget proposal.

“I think he wants to encourage us to do it, and I think he cares about the education our kids get,” Gronstal said.

School districts are working to finalize next year's budget before an approaching deadline.

Some school districts are expected to receive millions of dollars under Culver's proposal. The Cedar Rapids school district would see a $12.5 million increase while the Sioux City district would get $12.1 million more under Culver's proposal.

Culver said he wants to give districts some certainty about what they can expect in state funding.

“I have no reason to believe that leadership will not comply with that budget request, but I just think it is critically important that I make it crystal clear that these public schools across our state are relying on this additional funding,” Culver said.

Culver said state officials expect that school districts will work to find efficiencies through options such as group purchasing or the consolidation of information technology systems.

The governor pointed to legislation passed earlier this session that required districts to spend down a portion of their reserve funds before they look to raise property taxes.

“That has never been done before, so that was a historic step to reduce property taxes at the local level,” Culver said.

Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, R-Chariton, said state per-pupil funding already has risen this decade.

“Just throwing money at education isn't the solution and yet that's what the governor seems to think we need to do to improve education. It isn't working,” McKinley said.