Chronicle Editorial

By: 
Chronicle Staff

Passing the K-12 political football
     From canabis oil and other experimental medical treatments to legal fireworks and gun rights, plenty of hot-button topics survived the Iowa Legislature’s first “funnel week” last week. While each of these issues warrant varying degrees of merit, one issue in particular looms large as the 2016 General Assembly continues: K-12 education funding.
     In many ways, this year has been a repeat of the 2015 session. The Republican-controlled House has proposed a 2 percent increase in K-12 education funding, while the Democrat-controlled Senate has called for a 4 percent increase. Meanwhile, Gov. Terry Branstad wants a 2.45 percent hike.
     Cohesive, Iowa’s government is not.
     Lost in the commotion is the fact that lawmakers should have set the 2016-17 funding level last year. State law requires legislators to act on the education budget a year in advance, but there’s no penalty if they fail to meet the deadline. This has led Iowa’s school districts to budget by crisis as they await action in Des Moines. How are they supposed to plan ahead if they don’t even know how much money they’re working with?
     The Legislature is playing games yet again by turning education funding into a political football. Lawmakers extended the session a full month in 2015 due to partisan bickering and disagreement, and it amounted to nothing when the governor vetoed their agreement. Both parties should simply pass a budget that reflects Branstad’s 2.45 percent increase suggestion. Whether or not that figure addresses our schools’ needs is a matter of contention, but last year’s situation proved the governor isn’t willing to bend on this issue.
     While it’s an unfortunate reality, it’s one lawmakers must accept. It’s time to set an education budget like they’re supposed to and move forward with other business.
 
Knocking down our 99
     Could Iowa’s rural counties go the way of our rural schools?
     Yes, if a proposed amendment to the state’s constitution becomes a reality.
     State Rep. Jake Highfill, R-Johnston, recently suggested dropping the number of Iowa counties from 99 to 40 as a cost-savings measure for taxpayers. According to a report in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Highfill believes merging less-populated counties together would reduce the disproportionate cost of local government in these areas while streamlining government services. Though the idea has been proposed in the past and failed to gain momentum, it’s worth a look despite it’s long odds.
     Smaller counties typically pay more per capita for services than their larger counterparts. This can strain government services and affect quality, which is a serious concern. Whether its mental health assistance or other vital programs, rural areas have struggled to keep pace with escalating expenses in recent years. This has led to multi-county program mergers in an effort to save costs. It’s a sign of the times and has allowed rural areas to keep offering services to those in need.
     However, regional program sharing has also led to problems. It can create roadblocks to services by moving them further away from residents and limiting access. Traveling can be a large burden for the elderly and other needy segments of the population, but it isn’t as big of an issue if services are located down the road at the county courthouse.
     Therein lies the biggest obstacle to Highfill’s amendment proposal. Iowans have grown accustomed to local services and would seemingly push back at the notion of losing that proximity. It also creates an identity crisis for rural communities who’ve already dealt with the realities of the past. Be it schools, hospitals, businesses or farmer cooperatives, it’s hard to find a small town that hasn’t lost a portion of its individuality to mergers.
     It’s unlikely Highfill’s amendment will be ratified, but it sheds light on hard issues that need to be discussed. Rural counties face significant hurdles due to declining population and it’s vital our lawmakers plan ahead by finding savings. However, reducing the number of Iowa’s counties probably isn’t the most realistic way to do it.

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