Iowa’s revenues fell slightly last month, which is raising concern that the state income may not meet projections for growth.

State Representative Ralph Watts of Adel says there’s some indication that farm incomes are not rising and revenues may be slightly below earlier estimates.

“In March, our Revenue Estimating Conference will meet again and they will evaluate the numbers that they gave us previously on revenue growth.  If their numbers in March are less than what they projected in December, then we’re required to use the lower of the two numbers.”

Which Watts says would make budgeting even tougher for lawmakers.

“That would require us to go back and figure out how we’re going to fit our needs into an even smaller budget.  So right now everybody is in a waiting game on the appropriations side, waiting for the numbers to come out of the March Revenue Estimating Conference.”

Watts says this could have an impact on several different areas.  For example, right now the House has proposed a 1.25 percent increase in funding for schools, while the Senate wants a four percent increase.  If the March revenues show a decline, Watts says even the House’s proposal may have to be reexamined and adjusted down.