Benton County approves its budget for next fiscal year

VINTON — Following a public hearing, the Benton County Board of Supervisors gave unanimous approval to the county’s budget for next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

The hearing on the budget opened with Supervisor Chairman Tracy Seeman saying, “I guess we might as well jump right into the budget.”

Seeman asked Auditor Hayley Rippel to point out changes since the last hearing, April 22.

Rippel said she went through everybody’s departments for reestimated items. One item was insurance. A lot of those amounts were reduced to be more accurate.

The 2.5% reductions are factored into this, as is a reduction of transfer amounts from general basic and rural basic to second roads fund, said Rippel.

The proposed levy rate for general basic was $3.33570, for general supplemental, $2.33369, and for rural basic, $3.73963.

The county also has an emergency medical services levy of 68 cents and a debt service levy for the radio tower project. Seeman gave more details on the update of the radio communication project.

Overall, the countywide levy was reduced by $0.07931.

Former Benton Auditor Jill Marlow went over her concerns with the budget, focusing on non-program expenditures and disbursements. Marlow said, “I still have some concerns with how much our expenditures have gone up.”

Marlow said, “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 differently, 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 amounts are as follows:

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

In other business, the board approved a Class C Retail Alcohol License for Traveling Tapster LLC, May 23-27.

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

The board acknowledged the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds 2025 Compliance Report for 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.

The board approved using Local Option Sales and Services Tax funds for Newhall Fire Department for a new pumper tanker. The board received a 10% 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 Iowa Department of Transportation Secondary Roads Budget. The board also approved the IDOT FY 26-30 Secondary Road Construction Program. The budget is $14.2 million.

Supervisors discussed road salt supplies and construction projects that include creating right turn lanes for Highway 30 at 32nd Avenue and 33rd Avenue.

Culvert work is planned at these intersections south of Atkins.

Parizek 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.