When the Iowa Legislative session resumes on June 3rd, lawmakers will have information on new estimates of the state’s revenues and the potential impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus.

District 24 Senator Jerry Behn says the Revenue Estimating Conference is going through their predictions for next fiscal year’s revenues before they come back to session. He claims in the past the REC has been completely inaccurate, and with how COVID-19 has been playing a role this year, the REC’s job is even more difficult. However, Behn believes legislators will be able to pick up where they left off before they adjourned in mid-March.

“And if we all believe that the Revenue Estimating Conference is wrong, I think we can literally override those numbers if we have to. But it would take a pretty big effort and I don’t anticipate that’s going to happen. So I don’t even hardly want to go down that road.”

In the meantime, Behn expresses his opinion about businesses looking to reopen in the state.

“The quicker we can safely open up the economy is the best thing that can be done. And I’m seeing businesses opening up in a very careful, thoughtful, safe manner and I think the best thing we can do right now.”

Behn expects to have the budget finalized before the start of the next fiscal year on July 1st.