Lawmakers say special session may not be needed to fix budget

State lawmakers may not need to meet in special session this fall to plug a 72 million dollar hole in last year’s state budget. The problem was discovered when taxes paid after the state fiscal year closed June 30th were below estimates. Governor Tom Vilsack says he’s waiting for the State Auditor to say whether the state budget can be officially certified as balanced without legislative action to transfer the funds that are available to cover the shortfall.Vilsack says the Auditor’s position has changed a bit since the problem was first discovered, so the Governor’s waiting for written clarification of what the Auditor believes needs to be done. Vilsack says if things can be solved without a special session, it would save taxpayers’ money.But Vilsack says if the state’s bond rating would fall without legislative action, then there should be a special session.