By Jim Magdefrau

VINTON – The Benton County Board of Supervisors gave unanimous approval to the county’s budget for next fiscal year, at their Tuesday, April 29, 2025, meeting in Vinton.

The budget takes effect July 1, 2025.

The hearing on the budget opened with Supervisor Chairman Tracy Seeman saying, “I guess we might as well jump right into the budget.” He asked Auditor Hayley Rippel to point out changes since the last hearing held on April 22, 2025.

Rippel said she went through everybody’s departments for re-estimated items. One item was insurance. A lot of those amounts were reduced to be more accurate. The 2.5 percent reductions are factored into this, as well as a reduction of transfer amounts from general basic and rural basic to second roads fund. 

They proposed the general basic at $3.33570, general supplemental at $2.33369, and rural basic at $3.73963. 

They also have the EMS levy for 68 cents. There is a debt service levy for the radio tower project. Seeman gave more details on the update of the radio communication project.

Overall, it would be a reduction for the countywide levy of $0.07931.

Former Benton Auditor Jill Marlow went over her concerns with the budget, focused on non-program expenditures and disbursements. Marlow commented, “I still have some concerns with how much our expenditures have gone up.” She added, “There’s a couple of other service areas that have got some pretty major increases over the last few years and continue to.” She said she’ll be watching these areas.

Marlow said Rippel has been good at putting this all together. When asked what she would do different, Marlow said she’d start the budget process sooner.

Rippel said the board has been diligent in doing it’s work too. She told the board, “You guys have sat here and we’ve went over things more than previous boards, so I appreciate that.”

Marlow urged the board to listen to the auditor. 

The budget was approved on a motion by Bruce Volz and Ron Tippett. Seeman also gave his approval. The amounts given in the motion included:

• General Basic – $6,185,331
• General Supplemental – $4,327,822 
• Rural Services Basic – $4,468,561
• Debt Service – $799,542 
• Voted Emergency Medical Services – $1,260,912

Other business

A Class C Retail Alcohol License was approved for Traveling Tapster LLC, May 23-27. 

Ben Turnis of Information Technology received approval for the security committee recommendations. 

The board acknowledged the SLFRF (State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds) 2025 Compliance Report for ARPA (American Recovery Plan Act) Funds. The county had $4.9 million in ARPA funds. 

Treasurer Melinda Schoettmer received approval for abatement of taxes on parcels #270-01501, 190-11210 and 190-11220.

Service area amendments were approved. 

LOSST (Local Option Sales and Services Tax) funds were approved for Newhall Fire Department for a new pumper tanker. They received a 10-percent match of $51,020.74. 

Weed Commissioner Eric Schares received approval for a resolution for Destruction of Noxious Weeds. Roadside spraying begins May 5. 

Benton County Engineer Myron Parizek presented the IDOT (Iowa Department of Transportation) FY 26 Secondary Roads Budget. They also approved the IDOT FY 26-30 Secondary Road Construction Program. The budget is $14.2 million. They also discussed road salt supplies. Construction projects include right turn lanes for Highway 30 at 32nd Avenue and 33rd Avenue. There is also culvert work planned at these intersections. These are south of Atkins. He also gave an update on the lights at the intersection Highway 30 intersection with the Blairstown and Van Horne road. He said the intersection will be lit up very soon.