Supervisors ask departments to further reduce spending

VINTON — The Benton County Board of Supervisors told department heads April 15 to trim 2.5% from their budget requests for next year.

The board said the county will be $6 million short in revenues versus expenses. Salaries and wages will not be affected, so the reductions have to come in programs and services provided, supervisors said.

A budget hearing is planned for 9:30 a.m. April 22. Auditor Hayley Rippel said the county wants the budget revisions before the hearing.

“We’ve been pushing the pencil here for the last couple weeks trying to figure this all out,” said Supervisor Tracy Seeman. It has come to the attention of the board that the county will be about $6 million short.

A 2.5% reduction for everybody across the board is fair, said Seeman.

Sheriff Dave Upah said he went through his budget line by line and “pulled out all of the fluff.” He did not know where the supervisors wanted him to cut $27,000 to $28,000.

Upah said his department will probably give back money in the end. “We’ll do it, but I don’t know how.” said Upah. “We don’t just have fun money to throw around.”

“The worst thing is, is after we looked at everybody’s budget, and you all did a very good job of trying to get it as close as you could to the bone, we’re still $6 million over,” said Supervisor Bruce Volz.

“I mean, we can’t go into a new fiscal year $6 million behind the eight ball. Taxpayers will come in here, and they’ll be playing pin the tail on the supervisor. We got to do something to try to bring this down,” said Volz.

“We’re just trying to make it fair across the board. That way we’re not picking on one,” said Seeman.

Barb Fetzer, of the health department, asked the board if it looked at “feel good” money that is spent. Seeman said supervisors cut some of that too.

“Obviously not enough,” Fetzer replied.

“Well, not $6 million worth,” Seeman answered. Budgets have already been trimmed back, he said.

“I have no crystal ball,” said Seeman, “but it’s not good this year. Next year is going to be worse.”

Seeman said it could mean a cut of 8 to 12% next year.

It could mean layoffs and wage freezes, said Volz.

Fetzer asked who makes the decision about what services will be offered. Supervisor Ron Tippett said that’s up to the department heads.

“We already know the budget’s tight going forward. We’re hoping we can keep this as small as possible,” Tippett said.

Supervisors are also keeping an eye on what’s going on with the state legislature.

“So this year was tough. Next year is going to be worse,” Tippett said. “We’re just, unfortunately, preparing ourselves for the worst.”

Seeman said Benton County doesn’t want to end up in a bind like neighboring counties.

In other business, Supervisors approved a resolution adopting the Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Plan. The board acknowledged the resignation of Michelle Sutton from the Benton County Rural Access Hub and the resignation of Gary Benson from the treasurer’s office.

The board appointed Glenda Shipley to the EMS Advisory Council to replace Cory Rains while he is on leave and authorized the chairman to sign Letter of Support for Homebuyer Assistance Program through East Central Iowa Housing and Trust Fund.