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Delays In Setting State Aid Brings Harsh Criticism At Legislative Forum

There was a good turnout to Saturday morning’s Carroll Chamber of Commerce Legislative Forum at St. Anthony Regional Hospital, and state Senator Mark Segebart and Representative Brian Best were asked to provide answers to the topics and issues that are most important to our area. Carroll Community School District Superintendent, Rob Cordes, was in attendance and asked the legislators for an answer on their lack of ability to determine state aid in a timely fashion for the state’s school districts.

Districts cannot get by with that, Cordes said, and the legislature should not get by without setting state aid as it is laid out in Iowa Code. Segebart replied, but could not provide an answer.

Segebart went on to explain that sometimes issues fly through, but that doesn’t happen often. He pointed to a lot of other issues that drive state aid and that the leadership of both houses tries to determine what income will be to set aid accordingly. Best told Cordes the statehouse does a lot of good things, but this is one of them he is not proud of.

They need to get serious about doing what they say they are going to do, Best said, instead of using this as a bargaining tool. Segebart added the legislature’s lack of action has led some to suggest they be jailed for failing to set state aid. Cordes had a different viewpoint.

Segebart’s only reply was that he would consider that a rhetorical question.

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