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Nonpartisan agency: Iowa must address $132 million shortfall

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December 14th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A nonpartisan agency estimates Iowa faces a shortfall of about $132 million in its current budget. The Legislative Services Agency released the data Tuesday, one day after a panel lowered projections for how much money the state will collect during the budget year that began in July and ends in June 2017.

The panel estimated Iowa’s revenue intake at roughly $7.2 billion and decreased its budget projections by $96 million. The Legislative Services Agency tacked on an extra $22 million in additional Medicaid costs. A separate forecasting group previously determined the Medicaid shortage, which includes a decision by Gov. Terry Branstad and state officials to pay about $33 million more to three insurance companies that oversee the privatized health care program.