A critical meeting at the capitol tomorrow (Tuesday) will determine whether the current year’s state budget needs to be cut more AND whether legislators will have to dramatically scale back their tentative plans for the NEXT year. “That could definitely happen.” That’s State Representative Pat Grassley, chairman of the budget-writing committee in the Iowa House.

The reason for the uncertainty? State tax collections are running far behind expectations, barely two percent ahead of last year. Jeff Robinson is a fiscal analyst for the Legislative Services Agency. “Although the revenue news is fairly grim thus far for fiscal year 2017, the bulk of tax year 2016 income tax processing remains and there are reasons to believe the tax filing season, when completed, will be positive for revenue growth.”

Although charts show the state of Iowa has collected 88 million dollars MORE in taxes during the past eight months, Robinson says there are processing issues that make revenue growth over the previous year far, far lower — in the range of only eight MILLION dollars. With just three months left in the state’s CURRENT budgeting year, any NEW spending cuts will likely lead to layoffs in state agencies. Representative Chris Hall of Sioux City is the top-ranking Democrat on the house budgeting committee. “It is hard times and very hard morale for anybody who is working in public service,” Hall says.

Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says the situation is compounded because most state agencies have NOT had a budget boost for the past six years and layoffs may be the only option left if more reductions are required. “There’s just not a lot of other areas that we can cut,” Reynolds says.” We’ll just have to wait to see what the REC says and go from there.”

The Revenue Estimating Conference — the R-E-C — is a three-person board that sets the official estimate of future state tax revenue. Their estimates govern how much state officials may spend. State agencies are already implementing the agreement legislators and the governor made LAST MONTH to cut 118-million dollars in spending, to avoid a deficit.

(Radio Iowa)

This is National Problem Gambling Awareness Month. The manager of the Iowa Gambling Treatment Program, Eric Pruess, says the goals are simple. “To help promote the awareness of problem gambling…and to have the conversation among family members, professionals and others about problem gambling,” Preuss says.

Preuss told the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission last week that it’s important to continue pushing awareness of the issue. “We know that there are between eight and 12 million people in the United States who meet the criteria for a gambling disorder — and yet fewer than one percent actually receive the services that they might be in need of. So, that’s important as to why we continue to have not only a focus in the month of March but throughout the year, encouraging Iowans to have the conversation with each other,” according to Pruess.

He says those with a gambling addiction need to know lots of help is available. “Many suffer in silence because they don’t know,” Pruess explains. “they don’t know that there is a hope for a better tomorrow. They don’t know that what they are experiencing is not something that is just happening to them. This is a serious of events and behaviors that they are experiencing that are common with maybe up to ten to 12 percent of other Iowans.”

He says his organization’s job is to continue to reach out to spread the message. “That free confidential help is available 24-7 anytime of the year. That recovery is possible, treatment works and that we are the messengers of hope to those Iowans struggling from problem gambling,”Pruess says. Pruess says people need to understand the nature of problem gambling.

He says the research in the last decade indicates that gambling disorder is actually a brain disease. “When you look at the CAT scans and C-T scans of individuals who are engaged in gambling activities — it lights up the brain much like a cocaine addict or meth addict– or someone who over imbibes in alcohol. Gambling modifies how the brain works and it is similar to how other drugs also affect the brain,” Pruess says.

He says around one percent or some 20-thousand people in Iowa are problem gamblers but a small percentage of them are taking advantage of the help that is available. “We have fewer than 800 people who actually seek assistance in Iowa in any given year — so there’s a huge gap in those who actually need services and those who seek services,” Pruess says.

Free help with problem gambling is available by calling 1-800-BETS OFF or online at www.1800BETSOFF.org.

(Radio Iowa)

GRAETTINGER, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say three tanker cars of ethanol remain in a rural creek, three days after a fiery train derailment in northwestern Iowa. Environmental specialist Amber Wolf with the Iowa Natural Resources Department said Monday the fire finally went out midday Sunday.

The blaze erupted after the derailment around 1 a.m. Friday on a trestle bridge spanning Jack Creek near Graettinger, about 160 miles northwest of Des Moines. Federal safety officials say 20 tanker cars filled with ethanol left the tracks, with five plunging into the creek.

Wolf says two of the five cars have been pulled out, but three were left in the creek Sunday after recovery work was suspended because of a snowstorm. The department says creek water checks downstream found no obvious signs of a spill.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says an Arispe resident reported Sunday, someone had entered his home and taken several items. Those items include two wallets, a cell phone, and a purse.  The loss was estimated at $850.

Two public hearings are set to kick-off a regular meeting of the Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday. The hearings at 5:30-p.m., are with regard to the Proposed 2017-18 School Calendar and 2017-18 Certified Budget. The meeting and related hearings, take place in the Atlantic High School Media Center.

The proposed 2017-18 School Calendar calls for the first day of school to be held August 23rd, 2017, and last day as May 24th, 2018. Christmas Break would be held Dec. 22nd 2017 through Jan. 3rd 2018, while Spring Break is tentatively set for March 19-23, 2018. The District’s Certified 2017-18 Budget, which must be submitted to the State, is $26,570,911, and includes keeping the tax rate flat for FY2018, while building cash reserves for the District’s General Fund.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will act on approving the resignation of Mary Beth Fast as Business Manager/Board Secretary, a position she’s held since 2010. Fast has accepted a position with the Urbandale School District as their Chief Financial Officer. The Board will also act on accepting the resignation of Brenda Buman, as High School Level 3/BD Teacher. They’ll also act on contracts and/or Letters for Assignment for the following persons/positions: Joe Brummer – Head 7th grade Boys Track Coach; Oran Perkins – Assistant Soccer Coach; Brielle Cerven – Homebound Instructor; Pam Russell – Long term sub for the Middle School Guidance Office; Donna Green – additional para-educator hours; Blake Meneely – Summer Grounds Mowing, and Nick Sandbothe – Assistant Mechanic.

Other Board Action include: approving the purchase of a 2017 Chevy Suburban from Deter Motor Company for $39,400 through their Price Match Program; A Budget Adjustment Resolution for 2017-18 in the amount of $108,803. The adjustment puts off the impact of declining enrollment for one-year;The Board will also act on approving the School Business Official Job Description, with the change of job title from Business Manager to Finance Director. The position will be posted on the IASBO website as well as the district’s and Teach Iowa websites.

And, the Atlantic School Board will act on approving a recommendation by the Administration for one school make-up day due to the number of days the district missed because of inclement weather. The proposal is to extend the school year for non-graduating students to May 26th, 2017. The District missed five days due to inclement weather during the 2016-17 school year, but Superintendent Mike Amstein recommends one makeup day, which still allows the district to exceed the required number of instructional hours set by the Iowa Dept. of Education.

Among the final action items on their agenda, is to approve the Summer 2017 Capital Projects recommendation by the administration and supervisors in the district, in the amount of $748,000. The top projects include: Teacher Computer replacement ($150,000); 1-to-1 Laptop payment ($125,000); Phase 2 heat pump replacement at AHS ($183,000); Bus/vehicle replacement $155,000. The remaining three projects amount to less than $50,000 each. And, the Board will move to approve termination of a 5-year building lease with the Car Guys, LLC, for a facility at 1209 Sunnyside Lane, effective June 30, 2017. The facility currently serves as the site for the Behavioral Program and Alternative High School. Ending the lease agreement would save the District more than $51,253 per year.