Iowa state legislators agreed to increase the education budget by 1.25 percent and give public schools an additional 55.7 million dollars for the next fiscal year.
Local Quad City school district representatives are glad the education funding debate is over but they are disappointed with the amount they will be receiving. Most districts were hoping for a 4 to 6 percent increase in state funding, and the 55.7 million dollars is only a one time funding bill, which means they can't spend it on teacher salaries.
Salaries make up about 80 percent of a school district's budget.
"1.25 [percent] is way below what we had hoped for, what works out in our budgets, and anything else in between," said North Scott School Board President, John Maxwell. "We want high quality education in the state of Iowa and in order to do that, you need to pay the teachers."
The low amount of funding might force some districts to look elsewhere for help.
"That means, in next years instance, there is an increase in the amount of taxes that our local property tax payers are going to pay," said Jim Spelhaug, Pleasant Valley School District Superintendent. "If the state is going to support quality education, they need to come to terms with the fact that [1.25 percent] is insufficient."
School districts like Davenport will struggle under the new state education funding deal. They have been fighting for increased state funding for much of this year.
"We're disappointed that all our efforts to try to bring this issue forth to the legislature has been for not," said Rich Clewell, a member of the Davenport School Board.
Superintendent Dr. Art Tate said he is prepared to illegally dip into district reserve funds for the 2016-2017 school year if the state does not give the district the money they need.
"The board supported him on that, and it appears now if the process goes through as it is currently predicted with the legislature, it will be more incumbent on us than ever to follow through on using those reserve funds," said Clewell.
The education funding bill has not been passed yet, state legislators still need to vote on the issue. They are expected to take that vote sometime later this week.