Last week the Iowa Senate approved a spending package that would increase the amount of money given to public schools by six percent for the 2015-2016 school year.

District 10 State Senator Jake Chapman of Adel says the bill came down to a party line vote with the Democratic majority voting in favor.

“Since 2002, the state of Iowa has failed to keep its commitment to local school districts to the tune of nearly $600 million.  We pass these supplemental aids, but yet we don’t fund them and the reality is with a 6 percent increase, that would basically increase state aid by about $222 million for fiscal year 2016”  says Chapman.

Chapman voted against the bill and says anyone in the school system during October of 2009 will remember then Governor Chet Culver’s 10% across the board cut which forced districts to either dip into their reserve funds to cut staff.  He says it’s important that history doesn’t repeat itself.

“I do believe, I’m very supportive of that fact that we do need to set state supplemental aid, but let’s be realistic with it.  Let’s not play political games with it.  There’s a reason why Iowa’s one of the best financially managed states in America and this is just completely unsustainable, what was proposed” adds Chapman.

The bill now moves on to the House, which is controlled by Republicans so Chapman believes it won’t advance any further.