DES MOINES – If Iowa legislators can overcome Governor Terry Branstad’s vetoes of school funding, North Iowa schools stand to gain tens of thousands of dollars each.
At this time, Democratic legislators in the Senate and House are working to create a consensus with enough Republicans to force a special session in Des Moines to hold votes on key bills the governor vetoed. Two-thirds of Senators and Representatives must sign a petition to initiate a special session.
“Republicans worked with us on this year’s final budget agreement, so I am hopeful that they will agree to patching some of the holes left by the Governor,” said Senator Amanda Ragan, as she and other Democrats urged citizens to lobby their legislators to approve the special session.
“If you believe schoolchildren, college students and Iowans needing mental health treatment deserve better, make your voice heard,” Senator Ragan continued. She noted that Republicans had already come to the table to approve the bills in the first place.
If the legislature can hold the special session and find enough votes to override the vetoes, North Iowa schools stand to gain funding they claim is vital to operations.
“It’s for the kids,” one lawmaker told NIT, off the record. “The just can’t learn as well without this funding.”
Mason City would gain $417,710, the largest amount, obviously, as the largest school in this area.
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura would gain $106,460; Clear Lake, $134,887; Charles City, $172,002; Central Springs, $91,672; Hampton-Dumont, $137,285; Osage, $103,661; Forest City, $122,475; Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, $106,360; North Butler, $71,498.
