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Refund checks to Iowa taxpayers next year may not go out as promptly as they have in the past. Iowa Department of Revenue Director Courtney Kay-Decker says the slow down on the refund process is expected as her agency cracks down on fraud. “I hate to tell you, but I think we are going to slow that process down just a touch because we would like to make sure that we have the opportunity to do more front-end fraud checks,” Kay-Decker said at a recent Statehouse budget hearing. “It’s something we’re always working on and trying to keep on top of…whatever is the latest fraud.”

The director was reluctant to share information about how many tax filers they’ve caught asking for refunds they’re not entitled to.  “I do know we’ve stopped significant amounts of fraud. The criminals are always trying to be one step ahead of you and we don’t want them to know what we’re doing – other than that we’re doing it and we’re continuing to do more and more,” Kay-Decker said.

Governor Branstad praised the agency for its efficiency in issuing refunds in the past. Branstad said last year he got his state refund back well before his federal check arrived.

(Radio Iowa)

Thousands of community college students are learning this month that they’re receiving financial aid from a new state program that’s designed to address a skilled workforce shortage in Iowa. Heather Doe, with the Iowa College Student Aid Commission, says roughly 4,400 students will be the first recipients of an Iowa Skilled Workforce Tuition Grant. “It’s kind of a surprise to many of these students who are just finding out now that they’re receiving some assistance to help them this Fall and next Spring towards their tuition and fees,” Doe said.

The program is also referred to as the Kibbie Grant after former Iowa Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg. Kibbie sponsored the bill that created the grant during the 2012 session. Students may quality for a grant if they’re from Iowa, are enrolled in at least 3 credit hours in a qualified course of study, file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year, and demonstrate a high level of financial need. The minimum Kibbie Grant award is one-half of the average Iowa community college tuition and mandatory fees per year. The maximum amount a student can receive is $2,040.

Doe notes a wide variety of programs at Iowa community colleges are covered by the program. “All sorts of fields in health care, computer science and technology, but also a lot of technical programs like machinists, plumbers, welders, carpenters and sustainable energy,” Doe said. Iowa Workforce Development estimates around half of all jobs in the state require an associate’s degree, certification or apprenticeship training — but only 33 percent of Iowa workers have such skills.

(Radio Iowa)

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NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (AP) – William “Walkin’ Willie” Perkins was given a final farewell by friends in Nebraska City as his funeral procession left downtown and headed to southwest Iowa for his burial. The Lincoln Journal Star says Perkins was 79 when he died Nov. 27 at a Lincoln hospital. He’d been struck hit by a car on Nov. 6 in Nebraska City. Friends say Perkins got the nickname because he used to walk 16 miles from Hamburg, Iowa, to Nebraska City to work or pick up his mail.

Perkins became a downtown fixture, visiting friends in stores and offices, when he moved to Nebraska City 10 years ago.  Gude Funeral Homes had encouraged people to turn out Friday to watch as the procession turned down Central Avenue. He was buried in Riverton, Iowa.

A $22.5-million dollar bond issue for Iowa Western Community College was approved by the voters during a special election held Tuesday in 13 southwest Iowa counties, but a separate $14.3-million dollar bond issue for the Riverside Community School District narrowly missed achieving the necessary super majority of the votes needed for passage. According to unofficial results, the IWCC bond issue received 76.4-percent of the total votes cast in favor of the measure. A 60-percent super majority was needed. 4,511 people voted in favor of the measure, while 1,395 voted against it. In the Riverside District, unofficial results from the Pottawattamie County Auditor’s Office show the bond issue receiving 59 percent of the vote–941 yes to 649 no. Again, a 60 percent supermajority was necessary in order for the bond issue to pass.

School officials seemed confident one-day before the vote the issue would pass. Had it been approved, it would have paid for the  construction of a new 7th through 12th grade not far from the intersection of Highways 6 and 59. The revised plan called for both the elementary building in Oakland and the middle school in Carson to be retained, but with a grade reconfiguration for both buildings. It was the third time a bond issue referendum failed before the voters in the Riverside District.

As for the IWCC bond issue, it’s approval, according to school officials, means a decrease of 10 cents per one thousand dollars taxable valuation in the portion of property taxes residents pay into the school. The Early Retirement and Debt Service levies at the school will both see significant declines in the next fiscal year of $0.18 per $1,000 of taxable value. Iowa Western President Dan Kinney said the bond funds would be used to create lab space for the new Physical Therapy Assistant Program, and the necessary space for a Robotics Technology Program on the Council Bluffs campus. It also provides more classrooms and lab space for the school’s culinary arts and diesel technology programs in Council Bluffs.

At the Harlan campus, the college plans to build an addition to the Shelby County Center with the bond to provide space for additional science and math classrooms. It also plans to create a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Academy in the space to work with area high schools and business and industry leaders.

In Atlantic, money from the bonds will provide additional space and high-speed Internet connectivity for interactive classrooms to help the Design Technology program to grow and provide graduates with the computer skills needed by manufacturers. In Cass County, the Iowa Western bond issue garnered 386 “Yes” votes, and 74 “No” Votes. Not surprisingly, a majority of the votes cast were in the two precincts found in Atlantic.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday is expected to act on a Resolution accepting the 2013 budget for Atlantic Municipal Utilities. AMU says its total budget for 2013 is up 12.1-percent from the current year. The utility says they’ve seen a 35.5-percent increase in electric production costs and a 21.5-percent increase in the cost of transmitting electricity. If the Council feels AMU’s budget report is not detailed enough, or fails to provide a complete financial picture, they have the option of declining it.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will hear a report from Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring. They’ll also act on a resolution accepting work on construction of the City Street Maintenance Garage, and approval of various change orders for HMA street resurfacing and the Wastewater Treatment Plant improvement projects.

The City Council meeting begins at 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, at City Hall.