When evaluating what the 2021 fiscal year budget may look like after state revenues took significant hits due to closures related to COVID-19, Representative Dustin Hite says they will need additional information before making tough decisions based on estimates.

Hite says Iowa House and Senate Leadership and Governor Kim Reynolds have called on the Revenue Estimating Conference to put together a rough picture of what the next few years may look like due to the economic impact of coronavirus, as he says the state legislature is required by the Iowa Constitution to carry a balanced budget — which he says would be made more challenging if certain promises were made now and had to be cut when lawmakers reconvene in January.

Hite says the 2.3% increase approved for K-12 education is unlikely to change unless significant shortfalls can’t be made up by current reserves or if cuts would be too deep to other agencies, which are just some of the choices that could have to be made in what could be a shortened session when it resumes on June 3rd. Hear more about the 2020 Legislative Session on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.