Branstad Comes to Sigourney

            On Monday, March 2 Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds were at Sinclair Tractor in Sigourney to answer a list of questions given to them regarding the new tax increase on gasoline and diesel fuel, on education funding, mental health funding and a few miscellaneous questions. There was also an opportunity for people present to ask questions or to have the Govenor talk more in depth about topics he briefly covered. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are traveling all 99 counties to answer similar questions, so they were only in Sigourney for about an hour. They stayed on topic very well only making a few jokes here and there, one in particular regarding what Iowa college basketball team Branstad supported, he stayed clear of picking a favorite by saying the Iowa women. He did state that all three teams are good but based on numbers alone he chose UNI.

            The budget was submitted second day of the session. The motor fuel user fee is to increase tax on gas and diesel fuel. Branstad expects the Iowa Department of Transportation to find 10 million dollars in administration savings in the next two years on top of the 15 million dollars they have saved over the last few years. Branstad feels this is a necessary piece of legislation in order to meet the infrastructure needs of the state, not just for the state highways and bridges but also the counties and cities. About 50 percent will go to the Iowa Department of Transportation, 30 percent to the counties and 20 percent to the cities. This tax increase will make it possible to move up projects for the state and for the counties to not have to borrow money for road and bridge repair. This will also help prevent property taxes from increasing to cover these costs. Governor Branstad believes in a pay as you go policy.

To read the full story please read our March 11 edition.