As the current Iowa legislative session progresses, one local senator is making an attempt to increase funding for K-12 schools. Senator Rich Taylor (D) recently enrolled bills that would increase the categorical growth and supplemental growth for schools to 4%. The governor had proposed a 2% increase in allowable growth. Allowable growth is a percentage increase of the state per-pupil cost, and determines how much state aid school districts will receive for the upcoming budget year.Though Taylor would like to see as much as a 6% growth, he admits he couldn’t find the money to make that work. However, he says he found a way to cover a 4% increase without affecting any other state programs.

Taylor sees his bills as the first step in proving to the school districts that the state legislature has their best interest in mind. He says, “I know our kids are worth it, I know they need it, I know our school systems need it. We say that K-12 is our number one priority, and I think we’ve got to put our money where our mouth is. We’ve got to fund them if we want them to be number one, and they’re far from number one. So I’m hoping the republicans and the governor will look at that, and I hope to hear from all the schools and they demand that we pass that.” Taylor believes senate republicans won’t want to pass the bill due to a perceived lack of funds, but he encourages them to talk with him so he can show them where the money can come from. To hear more from Taylor, listen to the two-part In Touch with Southeast Iowa interview with him at KCIIRadio.com.