Republicans in the legislature have released their state spending plans for the budgeting year that begins July 1, 2023. House Republicans propose a 1.8% overall increase in general state spending.

House Appropriations Committee chairman Gary Mohr of Bettendorf said it includes a $31 million increase in spending at the state-supported universities and community colleges.

“We want to cut taxes, but yet we want to provide services to the people of Iowa, but we want to do it in an ongoing, sustainable way,” Mohr said, “and this is doable.”

The House GOP budget plan also includes $19 million extra for public schools to hire bus drivers, cooks and other staff.

“We’re doing some other things within the budget with other investments on worker training, other things like that to make sure that we’re trying to address this workforce shortage that we’re seeing across the state,” said House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford.

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