OTTUMWA -- One state senator believes that Iowa will have a budget in place before the July 1 deadline.

KTVO spoke with State Senator Mark Chelgren, of Ottumwa, on Friday.  He tells KTVO that he believes a state budget will be in place sometime next week.

Chelgren says he credits both parties on making concessions and compromising in several different committees.

“I think we’re in really good shape at this point,” said Chelgren.  “We did get four appropriation bills that came to an agreement.” 

Chelgren says that both parties are talking again and the fact that the deadline is still approaching doesn’t hurt either.

“I think it is prompting people to actually stick to the table and actually get things done.”

Senate majority leader, Mike Gronstal, released this somewhat optimistic statement today.

“This week the Iowa Senate broke the gridlock at the statehouse by making significant compromises that comply with the top demands of Governor Branstad and House Republicans.  After the Senate approved new budget bills, House and Senate conference committees quickly came to agreement on three: Economic Development, Justice, and Ag and Natural Resources.

Today the Senate approved the conference committee report on those budgets as well as the conference committee report on mental health reform.  This is how the legislative process is supposed to work.  If, as expected, the entire House returns to the statehouse on Monday after being absent this week, we believe the legislature can finish this difficult session and prevent an Iowa government shutdown.  Iowans want us to get our work done.  The Senate has gotten the ball rolling.  The handful of days remaining in the month of June is more than enough to finish the state budget and adjourn.”