By Jim Magdefrau
VINTON – Budget and spending questions were brought up at the Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, meeting of the Benton County Board of Supervisors. Bringing up the concerns was former Benton County Auditor Jill Marlow at the service center in Vinton.
Before Marlow’s presentation, Supervisor Bruce Volz stressed they can’t discuss any department or any individual specifically. He also cautioned this should be in “public comments” instead of an agenda item. Marlow answered, “That’s why I got on the agenda so that it wasn’t a public comment.”
Volz warned “This is this right on the edge of being a violation.”
Marlow said that at the budget hearing held months ago, show she asked about cutting spending and she made a public records request on the collections department to make sure the county wasn’t subsidizing other counties’ collections.
She asked, “As a board of supervisors, what measures have you implemented to reduce spending so that this doesn’t kick you in the rear end again next year when you’re doing budgets?” She asked if the board has met with department heads on this.
Volz answered they cut 2.5 percent from their budget, and told departments they need to be ready next year to look at more cuts. This was discussed with each department, there has been no actual directive on this.
Marlow said the county needs to look at the financial part of some of its decisions.
Volz pointed out they have moved up department head evaluations, as opposed to doing this later in the year so the board has more time to work on the budget. He stressed, “We know we’ve got some hurdles to jump over.” They are asking each department head to find ways to cut.
Volz added they are only one month into the current budget. Asking for information now can be a little premature. Marlow answered now is the time to look at how to control costs for next year.
Marlow suggested a moratorium on hiring.
She also looked at the collections budget.
Supervisor Ron Tippett stressed the county is service-oriented. The biggest expense is employees. “We have to keep our numbers there so they don’t pay the overtime.”
He stressed they have asked department heads to conserve.
Marlow warned that the state has a DOGE committee, and one of the things they are looking at is combining counties. She said, “If it goes and there’s a lot of push for it, Benton County is going to lose. And you guys have got to get ahead of it.” She added, “Unless you guys control spending, it’s going to happen.”
Other business
A budget hearing was held for the 2026 budget amendment. The main item for this was to add spending authority so Sarah Wagner’s mental health position can continue with the county, according to Auditor Hayley Rippel. The county will get reimbursed for this. Other items were gas line inspection, Emergency Management Service funding, purchase of a truck for conservation and weed department that was supposed to be purchased last fiscal year, and money for the Urbana Library.
A farm exemption was approved for Dan and Megan Diehm, Borland in Section 24 of Canton Township. This is for a new home.
The board approved office space in the service center for Benton County Historical Preservation.
The board approved the use of LOSST (Local Option Sales and Service Tax) for the Blairstown Fire Department. This is for 10 percent of the cost of a used 2021 Chevy Silverado. The cost is $45,000, so the LOSST will pay $4,500.
Tippett was appointed to the Iowa Decategorization Board.
Intern hours were approved for Priyal Patel in the county attorney’s office.
A land use change was approved for Jeremy and Stacy Koopman for a new home in Section 33, Benton Township.
The board approved a wage and classification change for Jakob Long of secondary roads. Engineer Myron Parizek was also asked about the Van Horne/Blairstown corner with Highway 30, and work on the Atkins intersections with Highway 30.
A lease agreement between Squiers Storage Rentals, Belle Plaine and Benton County Transportation was approved. They have two buses and two minivans there.
The board approved the hiring Shelby Dodson as a full-time communications specialist in the sheriff’s office. They also approved hiring Cassie Rita as a part-time cook/custodian in the sheriff’s office.
In reports, Volz, who is on the wellness committee, talked about getting employees to get their physicals so the county can reduce its health insurance premiums. So far 19 percent have turned in physicals. Eighty percent is needed by the end of October to get the reduction in premiums. A department head meeting is planned after the next supervisors’ meeting.
Jim Magdefrau 