State Republicans can do better to fund public schools

To the Editor,

     Republican leaders of the Iowa General Assembly are touting the approval of a statewide increase of 2.4 percent of school funding to support students. The school funding law has a different impact on specific school districts. The law is primarily influenced by student enrollment and supplemental state aid (SSA) and provides a budget guarantee, which protects schools with declining enrollment, funded with local property taxes. The school funding bill approved by the Iowa General Assembly and Governor Reynolds will result in more than 40 percent of Iowa’s school districts will need to increase local property taxes to remain within the budget guarantee that keeps the districts funding for student learning similar to the prior school year.

     When exploring data from the Iowa School Board Association, the school funding legislation will have the following impact on districts in Jones and Delaware counties. The information per district is as follows, with the first number representing the specific district’s percent increase in regular program funding, and the second number represents the levy increase needed to reach regular program funding for the prior school year:

     • Anamosa, 1.5 percent for regular programs increase and 0 for property tax increase for budget guarantee.

     • Ed-Co, 1 percent for regular programs increase and .299 for property tax increase for budget guarantee.

     • Maquoketa Valley, .3 percent for regular programs increase and 0 for property tax increase for budget guarantee.

     • Midland, .7 percent for regular programs increase and .033 for property tax increase for budget guarantee.

     • Monticello, 2.5 percent for regular programs increase and 0 for property tax increase for budget guarantee.

     • Olin, 1 percent for regular programs increase and .228 for property tax increase for budget guarantee.

     • West Delaware, 1.1 percent for regular programs increase and 0 for property tax increase for budget guarantee.

     The above information confirms that not all districts will receive the same percentage of support for instructing their students. Some districts will need to request additional support from local property taxes to meet at least the district’s guaranteed funding level for the next school year. Iowa can do better to fiscally support schools to ensure ALL students and communities will receive the needed support for students.

Kyle Gassman

Monticello, Iowa