By Jim Magdefrau
VINTON – The Benton County Board of Supervisors continued to get ready for the next fiscal year as they worked on the budget at their meeting on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at the service center in Vinton.
They focused on a statement that is done each year regarding property taxes.
There are areas to be acted upon and finalized. One area is the rural access hub, which the board believes it will not be funded the next fiscal year. Benton County Rural Access Hub provides “crisis stabilization,” working with residents and other county departments and agencies to connect resources for those in need.
Auditor Hayley Rippel cautioned the county can’t continue to use its fund balance reserves, because once that’s gone, its gone. The reserves are needed for amendment needs that come up along with being prepared for emergencies and disasters that can happen. If grants are not approved, then the spending authority shouldn’t be allowed.
She stated later in an email that the goal is to maintain a 25-percent fund balance reserve for that cushion between the end of a fiscal year and the first half of tax collections that don’t come until September. The levies can’t be changed at that point, but the spending authority can.
They also talked about the impact of the federal budget on the local budget, as well as the state lowering what the counties can levy.
Rippel pointed out that if they want to provide services, the county has to have funding to do so.
They also said the budget is set up as a worst-case scenario. The county does not have to spend all of its money. Irresponsible claims need to stop.
The board would like a work session to go over the budget.
The public hearing for the maximum levy is March 26. Then the budget will be published. The county can’t go over the published amounts. The regular budget gets approved in late April.
Supervisor Ron Tippett feels the bottom line number has to come down. Instead of expanding, the county needs to maintain for a while.
Benton County Budget
2025 2024 2023
Total Revenue 36,312,879 31,445,477 33,124,635
Expenditures 37,322,692 36,252,855 27,302,536
Ending Fund Balance 13,564,810 18,698,155 27,641,463
Other business
A budget amendment hearing was set for April 1 at 9:30 a.m. This is the third amendment to this year’s budget.
A canvass was approved for the special election for the city of Urbana. They also approved the audit of the election. The election was for mayor and one city council member.
The board discussed SF 376, a bill for an act relating to the siting and operation of renewable electric power generating facilities.
Discussion continued on adding lights to the Blairstown/Van Horne corner.
They closed with an update on the courthouse clock.
Jim Magdefrau 