County approves budget, discusses property revaluations

The Jefferson County Supervisors met Monday to approve the county budget for fiscal year 2019-20. The board also heard about property valuations from assessor Steve Wemmie, and criticism of those valuations from a number of local business owners and residents.

Supervisor and board chairman Lee Dimmitt was on vacation so the quorum was formed by board members Dee Sandquist and Daryn Hamilton. In addition to county officials, the meeting was filled to capacity with about 20 residents.

County budget

The board approved the county's 2019-20 budget for $23,259,746 after a public hearing. The budget process has been ongoing in recent weeks as the supervisors and county departments have been meeting to hammer out the fiscal plan for the coming year.

While on the surface the 2020 budget looks to be dramatically higher than the current year's number of just over $13 Million, the difference stems from new capital projects which the board is now authorized to bond for. When accounted for, the overall budget increase this year amounts to just over $234,000.

Even though bonding has been authorized, the funds have not been borrowed yet. They must, however, appear on the budget in order to be spent if and when they are borrowed. It's also possible that the actual funds borrowed could be less than what was bonded.

The capital projects to be bonded for include $6.7 million for major work on Brookville, Germanville and Packwood roads. County residents sent a clear message to the board last year that these roads are unsafe and needed to be addressed sooner than the county's five-year road plan would accommodate.

Other bonded issues include $600,000 for tuck-pointing on the courthouse and $450,000 for infrastructure once a plan for a public ambulance service becomes clear. Other non-bonded parts of the budget also saw increases, including a 3 percent pay increase for county employees.

The tuck-pointing would refresh the mortar on only part of the edifice. Different parts of the building are tuck-pointed on a rotating basis to avoid the larger costs incurred by doing the whole structure once every 30 years.

The county's agreement with Midwest Ambulance expires in September of 2020. The county is considering creating its own ambulance service through a partnership with Henry County or building it exclusively with local stakeholders. One idea under consideration that would save money would be to house ambulances in the Fairfield Fire Station on Second Street, if the Fairfield Fire Department relocates.

Property revaluations

Jefferson County Assessor Steve Wemmie joined the board in a discussion with residents and business owners on increases in the valuations of their commercial, industrial and multi-residential properties. These revaluations are required by the state every 10 years or less.

The county hired Vanguard Appraisals, Inc. of Cedar Rapids to conduct the recent assessments and area businesses were less than satisfied with the results. Higher assessments result in higher property taxes. Residents expressed concern for the county's ability to attract and keep businesses.

Wemmie assured attendees that the assessments were all based on existing Jefferson County property valuations and sales. When asked to provide documentation for industrial sales that were considered in the valuation process, he readily agreed.

Fairfield Economic Development Association Executive Director Josh Laraby voiced concern about the impact of businesses having to pay more in property tax.

'Over the last three or four years we have lost some prospective opportunities and expansion opportunities here in Jefferson County when they looked at the cost of doing business. There are some other factors involved, but the property taxes are usually in the top two or three considerations,” said Laraby.

Lori Schaefer-Weaton of Agri-Industrial Plastics was spoke about the size of the increases and need to verify the work of Vanguard.

'The magnitude of this is significant for our town. We're not talking about 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 percent increases, we're talking about in excess of that,” said Schaefer-Weaton.

Resident Judy Hamm encouraged those in attendance to gain a better understanding of how the state requires the counties to conduct valuations.

'You need to go to that source, the state documentation, how land and residential and commercial is all assessed across the state because that has a deep effect on how things are done locally. Local assessors have to work within those parameters,” explained Hamm.