Gazette Daily News Podcast: February 5, 2024

Featured Stories–Proposed AEA bill would create ‘more chaotic, less equitable’ system–After tax reform in Iowa, local governments look to fill budget gaps–Homeless counts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City show mixed results Episode Transcript You’re listening to The Gazette’s Daily News Podcast on Monday, February5th, 2024. This podcast provides the latest headlines from theGazette newsroom. I’m Becky Lutgen Gardner.Thousands of Iowans continue to rally to support Iowa’s area education agencies. They’re responding to a bill introduced by Gov. Kim Reynolds that would overhaul the agencies.But while AEAs provide valuable resources and training to educators and families across Iowa, many say they have room for improvement.One is how they serve the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. That was justone message shared with 12 legislators and about 100 parents, students andeducators at a forum at the Educational Leadership and Support Center in CedarRapids on Saturday.Several of the 30 people who spoke at the forum said deaf and hard-of-hearing children’s needs are not being met — and sometimes are ignored — by AEAs.Vania Kassouf, a deaf advocate and virtual instructor in American Sign Language, toldlegislators that Grant Wood AEA uses limited and outdated expertise for deafchildren. She supports AEAs' services for children withspecial needs but says deaf education should be separate from special educationJohn Speer, chief administrator of Grant Wood AEA says the AEAs are “not a perfectagency,” and getting people together to discuss additional updates is essential.But he adds if the governor’s updated bill is enacted, “what we’ll have is amore chaotic, less equitable and a more expensive system.”The most recent version of Gov. Reynolds' proposed bill would allowschools to opt out of the AEAs’ special education services and seek them elsewhere.A Senate subcommittee advanced the bill last Wednesday. But Republicanssaid the bill would likely see changes.House Republicans declined to advance the bill out ofsubcommittee, saying they wanted further conversation before acting on it. In other news, many Iowa cities and counties are struggling to complywith a state law signed last May. It was intended to relieve taxpayers fromincreasing property assessments driving up their tax billsThe bill passed with bipartisan support after property assessments — increasedby an average of 22 percent statewide in 2023.The law limits the amount local governments can acquire by taxing agrowing tax base. The law was meant to prevent cities and counties from seeinga tax windfall from rising assessments.  But those cities with growing populations, new housing, and industriesare trying to figure out how to extend public services to more people withoutbeing allowed to use that money.Many city projects are being delayed or cut entirely due to the changes. Swisher City Clerk Tawnia Kakacek says,“Any time you cut taxes, you have to...