(Le Mars) — State Representative Chuck Soderberg and State Senator Bill Anderson visited with community leaders representing the city, school, hospital, chamber, and area businesses during the Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon. The state lawmakers told the gathering of the priorities for the upcoming General Session of the state legislature. Both lawmakers say the state budget is a major concern. Anderson, a Republican from Pierson, says whatever takes place in Washington with regards to the budget will trickle down to the state level. Soderberg, who will assume the role of chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, says Iowa’s budget is doing o.k. but heavily dependent upon the federal government’s subsidies. Soderberg says Iowa’s budget is approximately $12 billion dollars of which half is generated from Iowa tax revenues, and the other $6 billion is funded from the federal government. Anderson says he expects the Democratic controlled Senate to seek additional tax credits
with property taxes, as opposed to any tax reform.
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Soderberg told the group that there is a good news – bad news scenario with the state’s finances.
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The area lawmakers addressed questions from the crowd that dealt with allowable growth funding for school districts, mental health levy, the state’s infrastructure including the proposed hike in gasoline tax, tax incremental financing or TIF, and deregulation.
