(Le Mars) — State legislators Chuck Holz and Bill Anderson met with nearly a dozen people during their legislative forum held Saturday morning at Le Mars. School funding and water quality were two of the issues that were discussed. Holz reminded the group that the state House of Representatives passed a school funding bill that would increase the school spending by two percent, where as the Senate has advocated a four percent increase. Holz says the issue now rests in conference committee. State Senator Bill Anderson says he believes the final compromise may be close to the figure as proposed by Governor Terry Branstad.
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Dr. Todd Wendt, the superintendent of schools for Le Mars Community was on hand for the meeting. Wendt says if only a two percent or less increase for school funding is approved, it will mean the local school board will need to raise the tax levy on property taxes. Holz says he has heard that message from other school officials, but the freshman lawmaker says the state can only do so much given the budget restraints.
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The lawmakers were also asked about taking money from tax that is currently being collected to help finance school infrastructure and instead to devote it to the efforts of improving the state’s water quality initiative. Holz turned the question back on the group asking for what their opinion is of the issue. The concensus of the gathering was the money should continue to finance school infrastructure, and another source of revenue should be devoted to funding water quality efforts.
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State Representative Chuck Holz is scheduled to meet with Governor Branstad’s staff Monday to further discuss the issue of funding the water quality initiative. He says he will relate the message that he heard on Saturday not only at the Le Mars forum, but also at Kingsley and Merrill that people are opposed from taking any money originally targeted for school improvements, and devoting that money to water quality initiatives.
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Both Anderson and Holz believe this year’s session may be quieter than those in the past. The state legislators say school funding, water quality, and a tax coupling bill are the three primary issues facing the lawmakers.
