Iowa lawmakers eye budget cuts
From the AP/Burlington Hawkeye

Lawmakers will focus on efforts to streamline state government and an early retirement package for state workers this week at the Iowa Legislature.

Democrats who hold majorities in the House and Senate said they need to deal with those two issues before they can move forward with the state’s cash-strapped budget. Read full article…

Governor Culver Signs Iowa Property Tax Relief Legislation
From Wallace’s Farmer

Last week, Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed three bills sent to him by the 2010 Iowa Legislature. The governor says these three pieces of legislation are designed to protect Iowa taxpayers and maximize state financial aid for schools.

House File 2030 requires school districts to use their cash reserves before increasing local property taxes to cover budget shortfalls. The measure prevents school districts from shifting the burden to property taxpayers if the districts have plenty of money in reserves not designated for other purposes. Read full article…

Expansion of broadband Internet for rural Iowa
From the Cherokee Chronicle Times

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) recently announced that a total of $6,651,830 will be coming to Iowa for projects to bring broadband internet access to businesses and residents in rural communities.

The grants and loans are being provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and were funded in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.Read full article…

Photo by Ruth Elliot on Flickr