As of today, the Iowa State Legislature has officially approved the funding for K-12 public education, agreeing to the $90 million in additional funding Governor Kim Reynolds had proposed in her Condition of the State address.

The money represents a 2.1% increase over last year’s figure. In the previous two years, with the state’s overall budget facing potential shortfalls, the legislature was only able to allocate a 1% increase in school funding, putting many districts in difficult financial situations. State Representative Chris Hagenow, (R) District 19, admits that many had hoped for an increase closer to 3% this year. However, he says doubling the previous years’ increases has been mostly regarded as a positive. “You know, it’s important to note the big number, $90 million, is a lot of money! Our investment in K-12 education continues to outpace the rate of inflation considerably. So we think 2% is a really strong amount, and we’ve gotten favorable feedback from schools and school administrators that this is an amount that they can work with.”

Hagenow adds, there are portions of the school funding that have been earmarked for specific purposes that address inequities around the state. That includes around $8 million allocated to transportation for predominantly rural districts like Greene County, as well as nearly $3 million to balance per-pupil funding. The K-12 education funding is always the first line item finalized on the yearly state budget, which is to ensure individual districts have plenty of time to formulate their own budgets.

To learn more about the current legislative session, listen to today’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program on air and at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.