Iowa lawmakers send 2.5% school funding increase to governor

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans in the Iowa Legislature are sending to Gov. Kim Reynolds a school funding bill that offers a 2.5% increase from the current year. The Iowa Senate passed the bill Monday, adopting the House version of the bill approved on Friday. The Senate had initially proposed a 2.25% increase but opted to accept the House bill. It now goes to Reynolds, who also had proposed 2.5% increase in her budget. The bill would increase K-12 funding to just over $7,400 per pupil, up from the current $7,200. The cost is estimated to be around $172 million. Democrats unsuccesfully attempted to amend the bill to increase state aid by 5%, or $300 million.