Solid state budget means
promises will be kept

 

Every legislator wants to keep their promises, but only those that pay close attention to the budget have a good chance of succeeding.

 

That’s why we’ve adopted solid budgeting practices in the last few years.  These reforms are now helping us keep our promises to Iowa’s students, families and communities despite the current nationwide economic slowdown. 

 

The fact that we are now making better budget decisions is one reason Iowa’s economy is much stronger than the nation’s as a whole.  The state budget is balanced, obeys the state’s expenditure-limitation law, and fully funds our emergency savings accounts. 

 

According to the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency, Iowa’s rainy day funds will grow to $620.3 million in the next year, the largest amount ever in the state’s savings account.  At the same time, we’ve repaid nearly all of the funds that earlier Legislatures had borrowed.    

 

Our strong state budget means we can re-allocate funds for flood and tornado recovery while keeping promises made to improve student achievement and teacher quality, create good-paying jobs, make health care more accessible, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. 

 

By making tough budget decisions, we’ve improved Iowa’s financial standing, kept our promises to Iowans, and are continuing to make our state a better place to live, work and raise a family.