x
Breaking News
More () »

Gov Branstad Vetoes Added School, Mental Health Spending

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad used the power of the line item veto to cut $56 million dollars in extra school spending for the next school year. The added fundin...

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad used the power of the line item veto to cut $56 million dollars in extra school spending for the next school year.

The added funding was part of an 11th hour compromise reached between Democrats and Republicans in the legislature late last month.

It means Davenport Schools, which has been a focal point in the fight for more school spending in Iowa, will receive $1.7 million less than lawmakers had approved for the 2015-2016 school year.

The governor says he wanted a two year education budget and believes the one-time spending increase creates uncertainty in school districts.

"By using one-time money and not providing supplemental state aid for the second fiscal year, the legislature compounded uncertainty that school districts faced this entire legislative session," the governor wrote in his veto message.

Iowa Democrats struck back.

"As a result of his vetoes, Iowa students could face overcrowded classrooms, fewer teachers, and limited opportunities this upcoming year," said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Andy McGuire in a written statement.

The governor also vetoed another move by the legislature to keep mental health facilities open in Mt. Pleasant and Clarinda.  The legislature wanted to have the state continue Mt. Pleasant operations while finding a private company to operate the Clarinda facility.

The Governor's Office released this list of bills he signed into law on Thursday, July 2 and those he partially vetoed.

The following bills were signed into law in their entirety:

House File 632: an Act relating to various matters involving insurance and the insurance division of the Department of Commerce and including effective date provisions.
House File 658: an Act relating to the funding of, the operation of, and the appropriation of moneys in the college student aid commission, the Department for the Blind, the Department of Education, and the state board of regents, providing for related matters, and providing effective date and retroactive and other applicability provisions.
House File 659: an Act relating to and making appropriations to certain state departments, agencies, funds, and certain other entities, providing for regulatory authority, and other properly related matters and including effective and retroactive applicability date provisions.
Senate File 171: an Act establishing the state percent of growth and including effective date provisions
Senate File 172: an Act establishing the categorical state percent growth and including effective date provisions.
Senate File 496: an Act relating to appropriations to the judicial branch and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

The following bills were signed into law with item vetoes:

House File 650: an Act relating to and making appropriations to state departments and agencies from the rebuild Iowa infrastructure fund and the revenue bonds capitols II fund, providing for related matters, and including effective date provisions.
House File 651: an Act relating to expenditures of moneys from the E911 emergency communications fund, other duties of the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and other properly related matters.
House File 666: an Act relating to state and local finances by making transfers and appropriations, providing for properly related matters, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

Gov. Branstad’s item veto message read in part:

“I am unable to approve the item designated as Section 11, in its entirety.  I recommended a two-year budget on the second day of this legislative session including an increase in supplemental state aid for both years.  Throughout the session, I encouraged the legislature to provide supplemental state aid for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade for the next two years as required by law.  By using one-time money and not providing supplemental state aid for the second fiscal year, the legislature compounded the uncertainty that school districts faced this entire legislative session.

“My administration’s commitment to giving Iowa students a world-class education is demonstrated by significant, targeted growth in funding for initiatives to raise achievement.  Iowa’s new Teacher Leadership System is the single largest reform measure, with an investment of more than $150 million when fully phased in during the 2016-2017 school year.  With many of our best teachers serving in leadership roles, such as instructional coaches and mentors, Iowa can better support the more demanding work teachers must do today to prepare all students for a knowledge-driven economy.

“Other targeted education reform measures my administration proposed for the next fiscal year at a cost of more than $18 million include: an initiative to ensure children are able to read by the end of third grade, ongoing expansion of Iowa Learning Online program to offer more course options to high school students, and the Teach Iowa Scholars Program which provides up to $20,000 to top graduates of Iowa teacher preparation programs who teach hard-to-fill subjects in Iowa schools for five years.

“With any budget, it is important to look at the entire picture.  For fiscal year 2016, Iowa schools will receive over $3 billion, by far the biggest item in the state budget.”

Before You Leave, Check This Out