Iowa Republicans hold firm on 1.25 percent school funding increase

DES MOINES - The give-and-take over funding levels for Iowa's public schools continued Tuesday as House Republicans rejected Senate Democrats' proposal for a 4 percent increase and interjected their call for 1.25 percent.

The move keeps the school-funding legislation on track for a conference committee, where state lawmakers from both parties and both chambers will attempt to reach a compromise.

More than a dozen representatives of various education groups and school districts addressed a panel of state lawmakers at Tuesday's hearing. The educators implored the state to increase education funding by at least 4 percent for the next fiscal year.

School officials say the Republicans' proposal will lead to staff layoffs, the elimination of classes and programs, and property tax increases.

'We're down to that level. We have eliminated out-of-classroom aides and support staff, and we're down to classroom positions. That means eliminating elementary teachers, (which) makes our class sizes go from 18 (students on average) to 25, which is very concerning,” said Jason Walker, vice president of the Charles City school board. 'We're also looking at reduction in our extracurricular activities, six coaches being let go, eliminating our swimming and diving program, potentially draining our pool … which would be a big blow to our community.”

Walker also said because of steps the district has taken to accommodate state funding levels, it faces a near-10 percent property tax increase.

Republicans, including Gov. Terry Branstad, say their proposal represents responsible action under tight budget constraints, and that the funding is sufficient when combined with separate funding for programs under the education reform measures passed in 2013.

'A lot of you are assuming we have the revenue to do 4 percent (school funding increase) and we're going to take it from somewhere,” said Rep. Cecil Dolecheck, R-Mount Ayr. 'We have some difficult decisions to make as to what level we're going to be able to fund. We do not have enough in the reserves to say, ‘Hey, that's what you want, we're going to give it to you.' I hope you can understand that.”

Dolecheck also broached staff salaries and benefits, saying perhaps the time has come for the state to revisit annual increases and health care contributions.

House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, recently has said he would entertain a discussion about addressing the rising cost of state salaries and benefits.

'At some point in time when you decide, ‘I'm going to put the students first,' then you decide, ‘Well, maybe I don't need that big of an increase if the students are first,'” Dolecheck said. 'I know how those negotiations go. I know how they usually turn out. Let's stop and think about it.

'Maybe we can get to the point where the state of Iowa, if we do all of our other priorities (like) Medicaid, is (not) going to be able to just automatically assume that we're going to have to give every employee a 3 1/2 to 4 percent raise every year. Maybe we're past that. I don't know.”