The ten-percent across-the-board cut in state government spending is having a big economic impact in the counties where Iowa’s three public universities are located. In Iowa City, Plumbers Supply Company CEO John Balmer says his business has definitely taken a hit from the belt-tightening at the University of Iowa.
“Since January, we’ve noticed a reduction of about 28-percent and in real dollars, that’s significant,” Balmer said. “The University of Iowa is our largest customer.” The universities have cut their spending on supplies and implemented pay freezes. Dean Hunzinker is a realtor and home builder in Ames. He says the market has softened, but he credits the overall economy more so than the cuts at Iowa State University.
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