Action is tabled one week in Benton County budget

VINTON — The approval of the Benton County budget for next fiscal year was tabled for one week after the Benton County Supervisors heard from former Benton County Auditor Jill Marlow.

Marlow met with the board at the hearing for the proposed budget Tuesday, April 22.

Marlow addressed an issue brought up at a levy meeting, when officials compared Benton and Boone Counties. She said Boone County is slightly larger than Benton County in population and valuation. Boone is close to Des Moines, just as Benton is close to Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.

“Obviously everything’s not apples to apples,” said Marlow, “but when I looked at Boone County’s budget for next year, the first thing I noticed was that in fiscal year ‘24, their ending fund balance was $12,430,000. Benton County’s ending fund balance was $27,635,000.

“When I was here last year, I cautioned you guys about not being a bank.” Marlow said levied taxes for next year in Boone County are $9.7 million. In Benton County, they’re $17.3 million.

In 2018, Benton County spent $1.9 million for administration. In 2024, it was $3.8 million.

“We got a problem,” Marlow said. “The budget obviously is out of control.”

Marlow read a document from the Tax Foundation, which says Benton County has the fourth fastest growing property tax increases in the state between 2018 and 2024. She warned that people on fixed incomes are not going to be able to afford property taxes.

Marlow said that assessments have nothing to do with their job as supervisors with the budget. She said she looked at estimates for health insurance, information technology and the sheriff’s department. She questioned whether the collections department is self sustaining, or if it is subsidized by the taxpayers.

Marlow made several recommendations. She suggested supervisors table approval of the budget and refigure it. She also asked supervisors to lower levies. She said they need to reduce the 2025 appropriations.

Marlow suggested a hiring moratorium. “It seems like we hire an awful lot of people, and we need to stop,” she said.

Marlow said she was insulted when she read that the reason for raising taxes was employee retention. “Keeping employees is important, but when there are people out here that are losing their jobs, investments are tanking — to tell me that you’re going to raise my taxes to keep employees when I’m losing my job, is an insult.”

Marlow said the public needs to have a way to contact the supervisors.

“Cut the taxes,” Marlow said.

Benton County Auditor Hayley Rippel agreed with Marlow that approval of the budget should wait until next week. Rippel wanted to look at the reestimated figures, so supervisors know what the balances are.

Supervisors agreed to look at the reestimated figures.

“I love budgets,” Marlow grinned. “I don’t,” replied Chairman Tracy Seeman.

Marlow also asked about the impact of budget cuts on secondary roads.

Seeman said, “I hear from both sides. They want less taxes. I get it. I do too. I own a farm. But on the same token, I still want gravel on my road.”

“You need to prioritize what is important to that county and fund those priorities,” Marlow told Seeman. She said the county can provide services at less cost, “But I’m not a supervisor.”

The next meeting will be April 29 in Vinton.