Sen. Tom Rielly’s Feb. 9 Column
Senator Tom Rielly, Chairman of Senate Transportation Committee
This year, the state budget must help Iowa workers and businesses recovering from the national recession. That means doing all we can to encourage new jobs.
The plan we’re working on in the Senate balances the state budget without raising taxes. It includes:
- A commercial property tax cut that is especially helpful to Iowa’s small businesses and communities.
- New workforce training opportunities to help Iowans fill skilled job openings.
- Strengthening our commitment to student achievement through increased support for local schools.
- A pro-family, pro-work tax cut that also boosts local economies.
These ideas will help create jobs, expand educational opportunity and make Iowa a more attractive place to do business. Do you have ideas for growing the Iowa economy? Please send them my way!
Supporting our local schools
This week in the Senate, we approved a 4 percent increase in basic state support for local schools for the 2013-2014 school year. These funds are used for textbooks, heating bills, technology and other necessities required for students and teachers to be successful.
For years, the Legislature has set state support for local schools well in advance. The practice helps school districts plan wisely, and, to echo Governor Branstad, helps make budgeting more predictable, stable and sustainable.
Iowa’s state budget has recovered from the national recession to the point that we have a billion dollars in the bank. After several tough years, it is time to ensure our local schools recover as well.
The 4 percent increase approved by the Senate equals the 40-year average increase (see chart at http://tinyurl.com/iowaschoolsfunding).
More support for local schools is the first of several initiatives the Senate is working on to improve educational opportunity for Iowa students. As we consider various ways to increase student achievement, we’ve got to make sure state government is a reliable, predictable partner.
