Many Iowa residents have been hearing about the bills that are going through the State Legislature, but some may be curious about some of the behind the scenes stuff, like the state budget.

House Representative for District 23 Ray Sorensen says that when lawmakers start working on the budget, they initially use revenue projections from the Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) from December. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio that they work on getting the budget lined up, until March, where they look at the newest report from the REC.

“Depending on whether it’s higher or lower, we have to readjust. So March is just the clarification on where we’re at for next year’s numbers.”

Sorensen mentions that there were some extra unexpected funds from gambling revenue that legislators in the Senate and House originally didn’t think would be available. Typically, the state’s budget is one of the final items the legislators handle to end the session.