DES MOINES, Iowa – On Monday, the Iowa DOGE Task Force met for the final time before compiling a list of recommendations for the Iowa Governor to look at government realignment policies. 

The task force is broken down into three subcommittees: workforce modernization, technology improvements and return on taxpayer investment. Each head of the separate subcommittees gave updates on the recommendations they want to pass on. 

Terry Lutz, chairman of McClure Engineering, apologized at the beginning of his presentation for if his comments on teacher salary and changes to IPERS were misrepresented. He clarified that the recommendations from the subcommittee are teacher bonuses up to 10% for those who increase student achievements, and that no one has suggested taking IPERS away from current employers. 

The recommendation is to give employees a choice, stay on IPERS or choose a different system. That would stem from a reoccurring study to optimize public employee compensation. The opt in or opt out of IPERS would only be installed if it is found viable. Lutz added these streamline hiring techniques are needed to improve education results, adding some incentives to modernize the workforce.

“You would have a concern about IPERS’ future, right, if the people that are being hired tomorrow get a choice between IPERS or a 401(k) those that are the last to enter the system will be the ones who will be the most at risk for not getting their benefits at the backend. Or the state, you end up putting too much strain on the pension system where future changes have to occur,” said Joshua Brown, President of the Iowa State Education Association.

Brown is also against the teacher bonus incentive, as he fears it will took a route like the privatized sector and reduce wages to have a bonus ladder. The task force did say they were not looking to, at all, reduce teacher compensation.

Some other categories that were discussed were workforce modernization and technology improvements. In a broad scope for modernizing the workforce, there is a push for alignment of workforce funding, work-based learning and upskilling pathways. Along with expanding training program capacities. There are specific recommendations that branch off of the subcommittees main themes of recommendations.

Improvements to technology included fraud prevention, overall operation efficiency, improving citizens’ experience on government internet services and more.

In the technology improvements subcommittee, Adam Keune, executive director of the University of Iowa Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center pointed at requirements for certified mail. Adding that the state spent more than $10 million on postage last year, and if that could be cut by 10% that would save $1 million.

The final list of recommendations will be sent over to the Iowa Governor’s Office by September 29. Governor Reynolds said in a statement that she plans to have policy she is ready to back for the upcoming legislative session in several weeks time.

“I look forward to reviewing the report, considering how each of the recommendations could help achieve those goals, and then sharing my plans for the next phase of government alignment with Iowans in the coming weeks.”

Gov. Kim Reynolds (R)