Many Republican leaders in the legislature are strongly opposed to issuing bonds for such projects. Vilsack urges the legislature to adopt his proposal for increasing various fines and fees. Several of these priorities are expected to meet with opposition from Republican leaders in the General Assembly. In addition to the utility sales tax cut already enacted, cuts on Social Security income and estate inheritance are under consideration by the General Assembly. Across the budget board cuts.
Legislative leaders continue to draw attention to weak state tax receipts.
Some legislative leaders are pushing for the REC to issue an updated estimate in March to give lawmakers more current data on which to base budget decisions before the end of the session, scheduled for April 27. The tax and revenue discussion has potentially serious implications for the Regents institutions. Each of the Regents universities has requested increased funding for specific priorities for the 2002 fiscal year. The Board of Regents top priority for the universities and special schools is sufficient state funding to fully pay for salary increases, which the Governor recommended in his budget request. The actual cost of the salary increases for FY 2002 will be determined by the outcome of negotiations between the state of Iowa and state employee labor unions.