Democrats and Republicans in the Iowa legislature continue to have different opinions on whether the state budget year that ends next week will be balanced without a special legislative session to use more emergency funds.  Governor Kim Reynolds says she is prepared to transfer up to 50 million dollars in emergency funds to address a shortfall between tax receipts and the spending lawmakers approved. That’s the most she can transfer without action by the legislature. Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix, a Republican from Shell Rock, predicts that won’t be needed.

 

But the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City, says recent estimates point to a much larger shortfall, more than Reynolds could transfer on her own.

 

Bolkcom says a special session should be called in a timely manner so lawmakers can make plans to return to Des Moines.