DES MOINES, IA--Iowa's State Auditor is sounding off on the proposed budget Governor Terry Branstad sent to the legislature.
David Vaudt says it takes significant steps to reduce spending over the next two years, and that is critical.
He says, "We're not quite where we want to be, even though significant progress has been made. The Governor, I think, is once again taking a longer term view in developing his numbers".
However, it fails to include money that would cover pay and benefit increases for state workers.
Vaudt noted that money would be left up to agencies to cover.
He also says Iowa may run into issues if the federal government decides to cut aid to cover their own deficit. And argues that the federal health care overhaul could add up to 150,000 Iowans to the Medicaid program, which would drive up costs significantly.
Vaudt also says he'll take a look at recently released budget hopes from Senate Democrats, and see how viable he feels their options are.
