Iowa schools will see an increase of one point five percent in their state aid funding this year. That came at the end of an extended and heated legislative session. Governor Terry Branstad later cut one time dollars that were set aside for the next school year.

Randy Collins is Superintendent in the Akron-Westfield District. He says they have been working to shore up their own budget…

 

He says their budget reserve should end up at about one point five million dollars, or about twenty percent of their planned budget for the new year.

Collins says their district has seen several years of at or below cost of living increases in state aid…

 

One of the reasons Branstad gave for cutting the extra money was that school districts would use it for ongoing expenses.

Collins says school boards are smarter than that…

 

Collins also is Superintendent in the West Sioux District.