More than a month has passed since the Iowa House of Representatives voted to increase allowable growth by 2% for the 2016-2017 school year, and two weeks since the state senate voted for a 4% increase. Since both bills were passed, there has been no official word on if a compromise is in the near future. Even if the House and Senate come to an agreement it must be signed into law by Governor Terry Brandstad, who wanted to set allowable growth at 2.45%. March is when school boards must submit their budgets for the next school year.

Mid-Prairie Superintendent Mark Schneider says the district has begun planning the budget for the next school year but without knowing what the allowable growth will be set at the school is driving blind. He adds that by state law the education funding bill is 13 months late already. Lawmakers, by law, are to have per student education funding set one year in advance, however there is no penalty for missing the deadline.

Republican State Representative Jarad Klein of Keota and Democratic State Senator Rich Taylor of Mt. Pleasant believe neither chamber’s funding bill can pass in the other’s. Both say they expect a compromise between two and four percent.