Budget measures head to governor’s desk

DES MOINES - Lawmakers began to break their fiscal 2013 budget logjam Monday.

The 2012 session's 20th day of overtime saw compromises spring up in House-Senate conference committees as the split-control General Assembly began to assemble major pieces of next year's spending plan and worked toward compromise on major property tax and education reform initiatives. Agreements forged on seven of nine budget bills raised hopes that the session's 18th week could be its last.

“I think so,” Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said of the prospects for finishing by midweek. “There's always a wrench that could fall into the gears.”

The House and Senate voted to send Gov. Terry Branstad budget compromises for education, economic development, infrastructure, the judicial branch and the administration/regulation.

A conference committee wrestling with education funding finalized an $858 million package that would provide an extra $23 million for regent institutions and boost overall funding by 5.8 percent. Under the agreement, which won Senate approval on a 28-19 vote and 90-5 support in the House, the University of Iowa would receive a $6.68 million increase, the University of Northern Iowa would get an extra $6.38 million and Iowa State University would receive a $5.2 million boost.

“We didn't get everything we asked for, but it's a significant increase,” said Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames. He said community colleges also did “very well,” receiving a $13.5 million boost in general aid and a $3 million increase for work force training/development programs.

The Senate also voted 29-18 to approve a capitals and infrastructure budget that includes $5 million over the next two fiscal years to rebuild the dam at Lake Delhi in Delaware County. That bill was awaiting House action.

Both chambers passed an economic development budget bill that would provide $15 million for business development incentives financed by excess money in the state's economic emergency fund. It also earmarked $3.2 million for a regent innovation fund and provided money to keep satellite work force development offices open in Decorah, Fort Madison, Iowa City and Webster City, though the $37.7 million general fund appropriation did not reopen any of the 36 offices closed during this fiscal year.

Sen. Bob Dvorsky, D-Coralville, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Republicans and Democrats had agreed on spending levels in seven of the nine fiscal 2013 budget bills, with only health and human services and the standings appropriations bills being negotiated.

“We're moving forward,” he said. “There's always little glitches here and there.”