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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers are at odds over how to pay for upgrades to the state's flagship history museum and some other buildings, the leaders of a legislative budget group said Monday.
Senate Democrats and House Republicans on a subcommittee that approves infrastructure and transportation funding can't agree on whether to borrow money through bonding to secure dollars for the projects, according to leaders within the group that advanced a roughly $192 million infrastructure budget bill. They expect to debate through a special legislative committee to reach consensus.
Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines and co-chairman of the appropriations subcommittee, has proposed spending more than $100 million through bonding to pay for renovations to the state historical building, another structure near the Capitol known as the Wallace Building and a facility maintained by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.
McCoy said the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund doesn't have enough money to pay for the renovation projects and that each building has immediate repair needs, including a leaky roof at the museum, reports of lead at the Wallace Building and mold at the enforcement academy facility. The infrastructure fund is made up of money from gambling taxes and is separate from the general fund.
Without bonds, there's not money for the buildings and "they just continue to deteriorate," he said.
The budget bill advanced Monday includes $1 for each renovation project, though McCoy said that amount is a placeholder while lawmakers debate the issue.
Ben Hammes, a spokesman for Gov. Terry Branstad, said the governor doesn't support the bonding proposal.
"With the tight budget picture as it is, the governor believes that taking on more debt is not the right solution to renovating state facilities," Hammes said in an email.
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs wants $65 million from the special infrastructure fund over several years to pay for a major renovation of the state historical building. McCoy challenged that request early in the session, arguing that other infrastructure projects in the state merit some of the requested money.
Michael Morain, a spokesman for the department, said the agency supports McCoy's plan, which would provide funding for roof repairs and the building's ventilation system.
"We support the governor's original recommendation for $65 million ... but we're grateful that Sen. McCoy and his colleagues are searching for other solutions to protect Iowa artifacts at the museum," he said.
The funding issue comes as lawmakers try to reach other deals over spending for the budget that goes into effect in July. The Iowa Legislature has no deadline to adjourn, but expense payments to lawmakers end Tuesday.
Rep. Daniel Huseman, R-Aurelia and co-chairman of the same subcommittee, said his party doesn't support borrowing. He doesn't know whether the projects will be addressed this session.
"If we're not going to find the money to fix some of the problems, then the projects are just going to have to be put off until we have the money to do them," he said.
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