rep_BaltimoreAs the legislative session winds down, the different departments are making their budget provisions for the next fiscal year.

District 47 State Representative Chip Baltimore says once the overall budget numbers are released, then that number is divided out to the different departments and from there, the departments have to work within that limit.

He states that the March revenue estimate budget numbers reflect the same as last December, around $7 billion for the general fund, meaning that there won’t be any state tax revenue growth to next fiscal year’s budget which he believes leads to no economic growth in Iowa in the coming year.

Baltimore is responsible for allocating $900 million to the judiciary and justice systems subcommittees.  He explains some of the challenges that he faces going forward in setting up those budgets.

“My friends on the other side of the aisle wanted to add money to that, spend more than what we had been allocated by our House and Senate leaders.  We simply couldn’t do that because we just don’t have that there.  The targeted budget numbers are spending virtually every cent that we bring in of ongoing revenue in spending that on ongoing expenses.”

Compared to this fiscal year, Baltimore notes that the justice system department will continue to operate on a $560 million budget with no increase while the judiciary branch will see a 6% increase.  He says the increase is from salaries going up and implementing the electronic court document filing system.

He believes the budget will be finalized within the next couple of weeks.

 

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