|
|
|
Representative Ro Foege
Report from the Iowa Legislature
March 28, 2004
Education Budget
Most of us have come to the point where we rely on technology in our
everyday life. Those of us in the Legislature certainly had our dependence
on computer-driven communication called to our attention last week when the
State Legislature’s computer system crashed. The system went down last
Wednesday afternoon, and it is uncertain when it will be up and running
again. If you emailed me or other legislators at the Capitol within the last
week, you might want to resend the communication.
In recent legislative actions there is good news and bad news for students,
educators and parents. The good news is that the education part of the
budget is increased slightly for next year. Community colleges get about
half the increase. The Iowa Tuition Grant program for Iowa students in
Iowa’s private colleges and tuition for National Guard members receive most
of the remainder of the budget increase.
The other piece of good news is that the House Education Committee, of which
I am a member, voted unanimously for a bill that totally reversed the Senate
passed bill that would have required students who read poorly to repeat the
third grade. Our committee voted for a bill that would continue to let
parents and teachers decide the best intervention for students, rather than
simply flunking a third grader who was behind in reading skills. The Senate
version would have the Iowa Legislature act as the ultimate school board
rather than allowing local control. Parents and teachers know the students
best, and they are in the best position to make adaptations and to determine
interventions for their children. The revised bill also revives the
class-size reduction program for another year, although the $29.3 million to
fund the program is in a separate budget bill currently being debated in the
Senate.
The bad news is that Iowa’s K-12 schools will receive only a 2% increase in
state help next year, despite the fact that students and parents joined
teachers and administrators in pleading for at least 6%. This plea is not
based on greed, but on the realization that at only a 2% increase, more
teachers will be laid off, class sizes will increase, and some courses will
be eliminated. The end result is that our remarkable education system will
be placed in jeopardy.
Making matters worse, schools will be shortchanged by an additional $12
million that currently goes to our Area Education Agencies. Without this
money, the AEAs are forced to cut services to local school districts. We
need to remember that AEAs came into existence as a positive example of the
consolidation of government services, and they have created valuable
efficiencies in delivering support services to local schools. Rather than
having 99 County Superintendents of Schools, as we had in Iowa, we now have
12 AEAs. Rather than having each school district duplicate certain programs
and services, the AEAs provide services for all the school districts in
their area. This reduction in funding for AEAs will result in less support
to local schools in meeting state and federal mandates in the areas such as
Special Education and No Child Left Behind.
Under-funding our education systems should be a concern for all Iowa
citizens. Even if you do not have a child in school, you should be worried
about the decisions being made by the majority party. They are proud of the
fact that they are not raising taxes, but this is misleading. They may not
raise income or sales taxes, but they are raising property taxes.
When adequate funding is not provided to schools, local school boards are
forced to raise property taxes to meet their most basic needs. When the
majority party promises a 2% increase in state aid, but then caps the actual
dollar amount, schools may find themselves with less actual dollars than
promised, and the only solution is a raise in property taxes. They are doing
to schools what they did to cities and counties in last year’s session. Last
year, the majority party balanced the budget by reneging on the property tax
replacement dollars the state has been providing to counties and cities.
This forced lay-offs and increases in local property taxes.
I do not agree with the Republican’s decision to balance the state budget by
shifting the burden onto the backs of property taxpayers—homeowners,
seniors, businesses and farmers. A tax shift is a tax increase, no matter
how it is camouflaged.
I appreciate hearing from constituents. If you cannot visit the Capitol, you
can write me at the State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319; call me at
515/281-3221 or, assuming the system is fixed, e-mail me
at
ro.foege@legis.state.ia.us. |