Branstad bullish on UNI funding, hedges on K-12

JOHNSTON - Iowa educators are waiting to find out how much funding they will have for the upcoming school year, as Gov. Terry Branstad considers what to approve within the many budget bills sitting on this desk.

Based on his comments Friday during filming for Iowa Public Television's 'Iowa Press,” students and faculty at the University of Northern Iowa can breathe a sigh of relief, but the state's 338 public K-through-12 school districts are in a more tenuous position.

Branstad has until July 6 to approve or veto all legislation, including the various pieces of the state budget, approved this year by the Iowa Legislature.

Branstad said the $5.1 million allocated to Northern Iowa is needed to help keep the university on equal footing with the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, which have far more out-of-state students who pay higher tuition rates.

Iowa State received a $1.2 million boost to its budget, while Iowa did not receive a base budget increase. One-time funding was allocated to all three universities.

'I do support the idea of the additional $5 million going into the base budget of the University of Northern Iowa,” Branstad said Friday. 'They have not been treated fairly by the regents' funding formula for the last several decades. So that's something that needs to be corrected. And I do support that ($5 million).”

Branstad's responses to questions about the $55.7 million one-time allocation for public K-12 schools were not nearly as optimistic.

Branstad said he is reviewing the legislation and has not yet reached a decision, but he once again reiterated his distaste for approving one-time funding to support ongoing expenses such as staff salaries and other annual education costs.

Branstad also deflated the hopes of those who remember him approving one-time K-12 funding in 2013. Branstad said during that session, state lawmakers also approved funding levels for a second school year; this year, they did not reach an agreement on a second year of school funding. Branstad called that 'a huge mistake” on the part of the Legislature.

'They didn't do that (second year of funding) this year, so (schools) have got total uncertainty, and that's the problem,” Branstad told reporters after filming.

During filming, panelist Kathie Obradovich of The Des Moines Register told Branstad his response to questions about the $55.7 million one-time allocation for K-12 schools sounded like 'a preview of a veto message.”

'I guess I want people to know this is my philosophy,” Branstad said. 'This is why I came back and why I ran for governor.”

Branstad said a special session to set the second year of school funding is worthwhile only if an agreement is imminent. He acknowledged that is unlikely, given how long it took lawmakers to reach agreement on 2015-2016 school funding.

Similarly, Branstad gave little indication he will be willing to approve the more than $8 million allocated to keep open state-operated mental health institutes in Mount Pleasant and Clarinda. The governor reiterated his belief that the state should continue to move from institute-based to community-based delivery of mental health services.

The institutes have been reducing patients and staff since early this year, when Branstad announced he would no longer fund them.

After filming Friday, Branstad was asked if it is too late for the $8 million to keep open the facilities.

'I think that's a good question,” Branstad said.