A new report on the state’s finances seems to indicate Governor Kim Reynolds not only will be forced to dip into savings, but she may have to call legislators back this fall to balance the state budget. The last state fiscal year ended Friday, June 30th. A Legislative Services Agency report indicates state tax collections during the past 12 months were BELOW expectations — by more than 104 million dollars. The state budget was based on the higher projections, so steps must be taken to ensure the budget winds up in the black this fall when the books are formally closed on fiscal year 2017.

Jeff Robinson, a senior fiscal analyst with the Legislative Services Agency, says the state DID collect more in taxes in June. “But it wasn’t as positive as needed to keep up with the estimate,” Robinson says. Iowa governors have the authority to transfer up to 50-million dollars from the state’s “Economic Emergency Fund” to cover a deficit. SOME payments due the state during the just-concluded fiscal year have not been made, though, and there’s the possibility some agencies have unspent funds that will boost the bottom line as well. However, if the deficit is larger than 50-million when all calculations are completed in September, the governor will be forced to call the legislature back into special session to withdraw more money from reserve accounts to put the budget in the black.

The state constitution requires a balanced state budget. State tax projections were way off because sales tax payments were significantly lower than expected. Robinson says the state did see growth in corporate income taxes as well as personal income tax payments to the state. “But sales tax was essentially flat year-over-year,” Robinson says. “We got $1.7 million worth of sales tax growth over those 12 months, so that was a surprise and that caused the shortfall this year.” Democrats in the legislature say the Branstad Administration intentionally under-estimated a new sales tax break for manufacturers and that’s what has caused the problem. A spokesperson for Governor Reynolds was not immediately available for comment.

(Radio Iowa)

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests took place Saturday morning. 34-year old Nicki Renee Jones, of Creston, was arrested at around 1-a.m. at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for theft 2nd degree.  Jones was later released from the Union County Jail on $5,000 bond.

And, a little 3-a.m. Saturday, 25-year old Diego Ricardo Manzanarez, of Greenfield, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center for OWI 1st offense.  Manzanarez was later released from the Union County Jail on $1,000.00 bond.

Police in Council Bluffs, Monday, identified the three persons who were injured in a semi-tractor trailer rollover accident Sunday morning. Authorities say the driver, 38-year old Anatoliy Zvozdetskiy, and his passengers, 31-year old Caren Sargent and 49-year old Demitry Leontey, all of Portland, OR., suffered non-life threatening injuries and were transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, for treatment.

The accident happened at around 7:44-a.m. Sunday, on the west bound I-80 off ramp to the South Expressway. Police and fire crews worked to block the roadway and extract the victims from the wreckage. The west bound exit from I-80 to South Expressway was was closed for several hours until the debris could be cleared.The accident remains under investigation.

(Photos by Council Bluffs Police on their Facebook page)

KJAN will have patriotic music to enjoy on July 4^th from 8:00pm-Midnight. As you’re out enjoying your Independence Day celebrations and area fireworks displays tune in to KJAN for some accompanying patriotic music.

The Glenwood Police Department reports residents in a four-square block area of a major gas line leak were allowed to return to their homes late this (Monday) morning. Authorities said just before noon today (Monday), that crews with Black Hills Energy were able to stop the leak that was reported at around 9-a.m. after a construction crew struck a natural gas line in the area of 3rd and Elm Streets.

Law enforcement and Glenwood Fire / Rescue personnel assisted in evacuating residents from their homes and sheltering them at the Grace United Methodist Church at 2nd and Walnut in Glenwood, as a safety precaution.  Residents had been asked to leave the area on foot and not by motor vehicle.They even posted a warning on social media for people to “Quit shooting fireworks while a major gas leak is going on!”

According to reports, the gas leak could be heard and smelled from several blocks away.