Former auditor challenges Benton supervisors

VINTON — Former Benton County Auditor Jill Marlow asked county supervisors about the budget and spending during the board’s regular meeting Aug. 5.

Before Marlow’s presentation, Supervisor Bruce Volz pointed out that supervisors can’t discuss any department or any individual specifically. He also cautioned that 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 right on the edge of being a violation.”

Marlow said that at the budget hearing held months ago 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.

“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?” Marlow asked.

She asked if the board has met with department heads about it.

Volz said the board cut 2.5% from their budget and told departments they need to be ready next year to look at more cuts. This was discussed with each department, he said, but 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 said the board has moved up department head evaluations so the board has more time to work on the budget. “We know we’ve got some hurdles to jump over.”

The board is asking each department head to find ways to cut.

Volz noted that the county is only one month into the current budget. Asking for information now can be a little premature.

Marlow said now is the time to look at how to control costs for next year. She suggested a moratorium on hiring and looked at the collections budget.

Supervisor Ron Tippett said the county is service-oriented. The biggest expense is employees. “We have to keep our numbers there so they don’t pay the overtime.”

Supervisors have asked department heads to conserve, Tippett said.

Marlow warned that the state has a DOGE committee, and one of the things it’s 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 said.

“Unless you guys control spending, it’s going to happen.”

The supervisors held a budget hearing for a 2026 budget amendment. The main item amended 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 be reimbursed for this.

Other items were gas line inspection, Emergency Management Service funding, the purchase of a truck for conservation and weed department that was supposed to be purchased last fiscal year and money for the Urbana Library.

The board approved office space in the service center for Benton County Historical Preservation.

The board approved the use of local option sales and service tax for the Blairstown Fire Department. The used 2021 Chevy Silverado costs $45,000; LOSST will pay $4,500.

Tippett was appointed to the Iowa Decategorization Board and intern hours were approved for Priyal Patel in the county attorney’s office.

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. The county keeps two buses and two minivans there.

The board approved the hiring Shelby Dodson as a full-time communications specialist in the sheriff’s office and the hiring of Cassie Rita as a part-time cook/custodian in the sheriff’s office.

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% 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.