Former auditor had questions about budget

By Jim Magdefrau

VINTON – The 2024-25 budget for Benton County was approved after a hearing on Tuesday, April 22, but not before many questions were brought up about it by the county’s former auditor, Jill Marlow.

At the meeting in the service center in Vinton, Marlow explained she spent a lot of time the day before, talking with departments about their budgets. 

Questions and concerns included use of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) for communication towers. She questioned how the remaining ARPA funds will be used, Supervisor Tracy Seeman talked about a new driveway, down payment on a new restroom at Wildcat with related electrical work, and security.

She also asked about spending authority for capital projects for this year and next year.

Marlow stressed, “What bothers me is this budget has double digit increases in expenditures.” 

She saw that legal and court-related costs have “gone out of sight.” She told the supervisors, “I realize that you guys have had some legal problems, but I also asked for some detail on some of those items and I see an awful lot of money being spent on things that we should already know or that we should use our county attorney for, or that we should actually get out the Code of Iowa and read first before spending money with attorneys. And I really think that needs to be looked at.”

According to a new law, Marlow said the maximum levy for rural services can be $3.87255, but the county is levying for $3.90577. “How can you do that?” she asked. 

She added the fund balance in rural services budget has grown astronomically. She said in good budgeting, they should try for a 25 percent fund balance. She stressed the county is not supposed to be a bank. She feels the rural services levy can be reduced.

She also looked at the fund balance in general basic. She said she was dismayed in looking at the sheriff’s budget. From FY 2023 to FY2025, the patrol budget in increased by 4.7 percent. Communications is increasing 24 percent, jail 22.5 percent and administration by 40 percent. She’d prefer to see more money spent on patrol.

Investigation increased 69 percent. Sheriff Ron Tippett pointed out there are now three people instead of two. As for patrol, they have added four since 2017. They’ve added one detective and would like to bring back an SRO (School Resource Officer). 

Marlow told the supervisors their budget increased 28.9 percent. 

As for human resources, Marlow said the county spent $73,840 in 2023. Now they are asking for $175,000, for an increase of 137 percent. She asked about information technology in the human resources budget. Part of the increase is an applicant tracking system. Marlow questioned why this was in the human resources and not in the information technology budget.

Marlow also received an explanation on funding for public health, related to the county switching to a county-based system, and the county not having a board of health for a period of time. Grants were also explained. 

Marlow said she sees a lot of duplication in the budget. 

Marlow told the board, “Our taxes are going up out of sight and you guys have got to start pulling in the reins.” She added, “Budgeting is one of your most important jobs and maybe you don’t know this budget inside and out, line item by line item, but there’s a lot of duplications in there. I could easily take out $500,000 and nobody would know the difference.”

Seeman said he wants to reduce the levies, but assessed values went up. When budgets were made, they didn’t not know what the assessed values would be. 

Marlow insisted the levy was too high. 

Other business

In other business the board acted on noxious weeds, early retirement, pay for election workers and approving a Class C Retail Alcohol License for Watkins Community Athletic Association. A hearing was held on vacating part of 24th Ave. in Harrison Township and have it returned to private property. The board also acted on a bridge replacement project, BROS-C006(127&128)—8J-06.