Three dozen attend legislative forum with Mary Jo Wilhelm and John Beard

With the State of Iowa facing budget deficits and budget cuts being necessary, there were a lot of concerned citizens at Saturday's legislative forum held by State Representative John Beard of Decorah and State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm of Cresco. "This is a good sign--this many people showing up who are concerned about state government," said Beard.

While discussion ranged over a wide range of topics, including state tax credit program, unemployment compensation and separate proposed bills involving puppy mills and nurse/anesthetists, state funding of school districts was the major topic.

Decorah School Board member Ron Fadness warned "this could be a fundamental shift" in school funding this year. South Winneshiek superintendent Dick Janson told the legislators all proposals being studied by the state legislature would leave standing the previous 10 percent cut in state aid to school districts. Janson said that would have a $440,000 impact on the Decorah school district and a $190,000 impact on the South Winneshiek school district. Janson said "most school district made up the difference from cash reserves." Fadness stated the most important legislation is that setting the allowable growth rate in school district spending. He noted that that is a separate issue from how much state aid the state gives school districts--it's a question of how much money school districts are allowed to raise on their own.