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DES MOINES — Iowa will need slightly less money from state coffers to cover a budget gap after revenue estimates saw a small uptick since October, primarily driven by higher collections from consumer spending.

During its meeting on Thursday, the three-member Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference, the nonpartisan panel that provides determinations on the state budget, said higher than expected consumer spending and optimism spurred by federal aid packages for farmers increased estimated state revenue compared to its projection this fall.

Initially, the panel estimated the state would bring in roughly $8.1 billion, which would have left a $1.3 billion budget gap after the Iowa Legislature budget

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