Washington Community School District superintendent Dr. Mike Jorgensen says with an agreement by Iowa’s legislature on school funding it will mean a $200,000 a year shortfall if enrollment remains stable. Schools will receive a 1.25% increase in state aid funding plus one time money which increases it to 2.62% growth for the coming year. The budget also does not set the allowable growth for the following year. Jorgensen explains Washington’s average expenses in the district increase by 3.5% each year and if there is a decline in student enrollment “it will be even more devastating.”

He adds, the district did not replace five positions this year, three teaching and two support.

Had the legislature set 2.5% allowable growth there would have been a reduction in property taxes. However, Washington School District tax payers will now see a 25 cents per $1,000 increase in the levy next year.

The Iowa legislature has a deadline to submit a final budget by June 30th, the end of the fiscal year.