Schneider Statehouse Report: Budget Targets Released, Union Wage Still Up in the Air

By Sen. Charles Schneider

The budgeting process continues at the state Capitol. The released his proposed budget earlier this year. 

This last week, House Republicans and Senate Democrats released their budget targets. The House Republicans’ budget target is $6.414 billion, which is an increase of $187 million (or 3 percent) over last year’s spending, and is 98 percent of recurring revenues. The Senate Democrats’ budget target is $6.901 billion, which is an increase of $301.7 million (or 11 percent) over last year, and is 105 percent of recurring revenues.

The House Republicans’ budget fully funds property tax credits for the first time since FY 2002. It also increases funding to the Regents institutions by 2.6 percent (which will help them freeze tuition), increases community college general aid by $10 million, provides $74 million to fund Allowable Growth at 2 percent, and funds the education reform bill that the House passed last week. Their budget also includes an increase of $29.8 million to fund equalization for mental health, and increases funding for the judicial branch by $16 million, which will help them reopen County Clerk of Court offices on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

One budget item that still needs to be resolved is compensation for most union employees. Negotiations between the governor’s office and the state’s largest public employee union, AFSCME, have broken down and entered into arbitration. The arbitrator’s ruling will need to be factored into the budget before we can finalize it.

As budget discussions continue over the next several weeks, I’ll push for us to be fiscally responsible. I believe that it’s important that we spend less than we take in, that we not commit one-time sources of revenue to ongoing expenses, and that we fully fund all known obligations rather than “backfill” them the next fiscal year.

First Funnel Week Deadline is March 8

The first funnel deadline for the 2013 legislative session is Friday, March 8. This is the deadline by which a bill must be approved by the standing committee from which it originated in order to stay alive during the legislative session. There are some exceptions to this process, including Ways and Means and Appropriations bills.

Upcoming Legislative Forums

March 16, 9-10:30 a.m., West Des Moines City Hall

April 6, 9:30-11 a.m., Waukee City Council Chambers

(Sen. Charles Schneider, R-West Des Moines, represents Senate District 22, which includes Waukee, Clive, Windsor Heights and part of West Des Moines. Contact him at Charles.Schneider@legis.iowa.gov  or 515-281-3371.)