State lawmakers have made their way to Des Moines for the 2016 Iowa Legislative session which began Monday. Area representatives say the first item on their agenda will be to tackle K-12 education funding. Representative Jarad Klein, Republican from Keota says, his top priority will be school funding. State Senator Rich Taylor, Democrat of Mt. Pleasant, states, lawmakers have to make up what happened with funding last year.

School funding was a contentious topic during the 2015 session however, Republicans and Democrats did compromise on a 1.25% increase in allowable growth with an additional $55.7 million one-time payment to schools. Governor Terry Branstad then vetoed the compromise after the session ended. For Mid-Prairie and Keota the veto cost the schools $130,000 and $30,000 respectively.