As state legislature begins to work overtime, State Representative Bob Hager says school aid is still unresolved

Under a regular calendar, the Iowa Legislature would have wrapped up its session on Friday.  But lawmakers return to the capitol on Monday with work remaining on several pieces of important legislation--especially school funding.

Dorchester State Representative Bob Hager says he understands the desire by school district administrators to have allowable growth rate set at two percent for next year, but Hager doesn't think that's going to happen.

Hager says previous legislatures have overpromised and underdelivered.  "We aren't at zero percent Allowable Growth right now," he says, "We're at $156 million below zero plus the use of $52 million in one-time funds or transfers.  If we were at zero, 2 percent allowable growth would only mean $65 million and that is a discussion we could certainly have."

Hager says even if the legislature approve a two percent allowable growth rate, there's no guarantee the state would have the money.  "If we pass 2 percent and determine we don't have the money, we'll continue a trend that the previous three legislatures have been on that is unfair to the property tax payers.  $450 million of unmet obligations by the legislature have gone to the property taxpayer."