DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A panel of state budget experts has maintained its earlier projection on Iowa’s revenue for the current fiscal year, and it continues to warn revenue is growing but at a slower rate. The three-member Revenue Estimating Conference said Wednesday it predicts the state will take in about $7.04 billion for the fiscal year that began last July. That’s the same figure the panel estimated in December, and it will allow Gov. Terry Branstad to keep his recommendations for the next state budget.

The panel expects the state to take in about $7.35 billion for the fiscal year that begins in July, a slight increase from their last projection. Members warned low commodity prices and other factors continue to slow the state’s economic growth. The panel made similar comments in December.