Legislators await Branstad’s allowable growth proposal

WATERLOO - Education stakeholders will be all ears during the condition of the state address to hear Gov. Terry Branstad's proposal for allowable growth, or a supplemental state aid increase.

Branstad is expected to announce the percentage increase during the address he will make on Tuesday, the second day of session. From there, lawmakers will begin finalizing that figure within the legally required 30 days from the speech.

Leaders in their respective education committees say it's too early to tell what figures they will use as the start of the negotiation to increase per-student spending.

But Democrats, who have been critical of Republicans for failing last year to set a figure for the current fiscal year, talk about the need for increased spending after last year's lapse.

'The House Republicans and governor, as well, have not been obeying the law, and we need to get back on track,” said Iowa Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, who leads the Senate Education Committee.

Iowa Rep. Ron Jorgensen, R-Sioux City, who chairs the House Education Committee, said there is a commitment this year to work out the differences between the Democrat-led Senate and Republican-led House to approve allowable growth early to help school districts plan their 2016-17 budgets.

He said he wants to make sure the state can honor the commitment and promise a rate it can deliver to school districts.

The ceiling figure lawmakers have discussed is 6 percent and few think the lawmakers will not pass any increase in inflationary spending for the school districts.

Regardless of the final figure, Quirmbach wants to ensure funding is increased for students, pointing out that Iowa spends $1,700 less per pupil than the national average.

'Our budget is in good shape, and you know, I just don't see the justification for shortchanging our kids by failing to meet their educational needs,” Quirmbach said. 'I'm not afraid of making important investments in our future.”

Branstad said he, too, hopes education funding will be approved early on in the session this year. But he does not believe Democrats will be happy with his proposal.

'They're never going to be satisfied. I don't care what number I give them,” Branstad said. 'They'll never be satisfied. But the truth is we have to have a budget that's balanced and sustainable for the period. So I'm going to offer a realistic amount.”

Jorgensen couches his support for education and appropriately funding education in terms of the expected belt-tightening budget ahead.

'The progress of the state is no swifter than our progress in education,” Jorgensen said, before adding that the House is committed to living within its budgeting principles and that there's 'not a whole lot of money to go around.”

Jorgensen said he wants to focus spending on specific student needs, particularly for at-risk youth and early childhood literacy programs.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle also plan to address transportation costs for students so rural districts do not incur an undue burden in busing kids to and from school.

Des Moines Bureau reporter Erin Murphy contributed to this report.