DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democrats in the Legislature are calling for the state to boost state spending on local elementary and secondary schools by 2 percent, a move that would give schools an additional $65 million in the next fiscal year.

Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, of Council Bluffs, says Republican Gov. Terry Branstad's plan to freeze basic state aid for two years would force teacher layoffs and drive up property taxes. On Thursday, Gronstal predicted the Democratic plan would begin moving in the Senate next week.

House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, of Hiawatha, says Republicans in the House next week will approve Branstad's proposed freeze, but they also will pass a measure giving schools an additional $47 million so they don't have to increase property taxes.

"I don't think the Republicans ran on a platform of we're going to try and gut funding for education in this state, but that's what their budget works out," said Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs. "In my mind, that's just outrageous."

Gronstal said he was dispatching Senate Democrats back home for the weekend, with instructions to focus on the school spending issue.

"We want to make sure we get a lot of input from around the state," said Gronstal.

Local school budgets are a mix of state dollars and local property taxes, and are tied to student enrollment.

Senate President Jack Kibbie, D-Emmetsburg, noted that roughly 200 school districts — largely in rural sections of the state — are seeing enrollment declines.

"There's a huge property tax increase for those school districts," said Kibbie.

"Taken as a whole, their budget is a disaster for a half a million kids in K through 12 education," Gronstal said. "Let's do the responsible thing for our children's future."

Gronstal said the 2 percent increase will begin moving in the Senate early next week, but top Republicans countered with a proposal of their own.

Paulsen said debate is scheduled next week on a measure freezing basic state aid to local schools, but also on a measure that would give local schools up to $47 million so they don't have to resort to property tax increases.

"The number one priority is to make sure we fulfill the promise we made to property taxpayers," said Paulsen.

Paulsen argued that Democrats promised local schools an increase this year, but didn't include the money to pay for that increase.

"The commitment to fund the portions of that that were left unfunded in previous years is actually one of the largest commitments in years," said Paulsen. "It's sure a great deal larger than what the Democrats and Gov. Culver did last year."

Paulsen pointed to the last election where voters elected Republican Branstad and gave the GOP control of the House, largely on campaign promises to cut into government at all levels.

"One of the messages out of the election was Iowans expect us to look at government at levels and make it more efficient," Paulsen said, adding that schools are not exempt.