Local government concerned about House File 718

MT. PLEASANT — Seeing many possible negative implications from Iowa House File 718 which was signed into law in May, the Henry County Board of Supervisors invited state representatives to Thursday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.

District 95 Rep. Taylor Collins and District 88 Rep. Jeff Shipley met with the supervisors. While they also reached out to Sen. Adrian Dickey, he was unable to attend, but will tentatively meet with them at another time.

At this meeting Collins and Shipley discussed H.F. 718 which covers topics such as property taxes, financial authority, operations and budgets, transit funding, property tax credits and exemptions, and bonding procedures.

Supervisor Chad White explained to the representatives that the language of the bill was not very clear.

Many of the supervisors’ concerns revolved around the changes which will drop levies to $3.50 by 2029 while Henry County’s general basis levy is set at $4.83.

Supervisor Marc Lindeen further explained his understand telling Collins it appeared to him that the county would need to “…cut roughly $1.3 million in the next four years…” as part of a phasing out portion of the bill.

“I don’t think we intend to keep that,” Collins responded to Lindeen’s specific concern. “It simply makes sure that we come back to table and we’re not done with the issue.”

Collins further said he felt that part of bill signaled to different entities, “You got to come to us with a solution for once rather than just complaining about whatever bill there may be.”

“I’m not saying it’s been perfect…” Collins said. “We all got to work together and try to find a solution.”

According to Collins, representatives like himself are “stuck in the middle trying to figure it out,” as they try to balance the wants and needs of property taxpayers and local governments.

As the open conversation between the supervisors and representatives continued, they discussed what kind of streamlining expectations state level government might have for local government in order to achieve these proposed budget restrictions with the new bill.

According to Supervisor Greg Moeller, in order to meet the requirements of the bill, “…from now until then, based on the $3.50 our overall total budget is going to have to go down 27.54% over that four-year period of time.”

“Overall, the county’s general basic budget will have to decrease 27.54%, and that again is based upon our current valuation,” Moeller said.

Moeller further explained that the county’s historical valuations have not increased anywhere near the rate the bill’s equation anticipates.

“So, the numbers don’t work,” Moeller said. “I mean, I don’t know how… I guess you start laying off employees.”

Moeller and White questioned how these types of restrictions take away the power from local government in consideration requirements paired with restrictions from the state on local government.

“You tell us that we have to offer all these services to our citizens to provide for their safety and their well-being in making your county or your city a desirable place to live,” Moeller said. “…You tell us we have to do these things, and yet we have to have the money to do the things. So, to what degree are we able to continue on?”

Shipley and Collins participated in conversation about possible solutions for “cutting low hanging- fruit,” as Shipley called it.

Two ideas warranted Collins writing them down and both he and Shipley expressing interest in further conversation about them.

County Auditor Shelly Barber asked the representatives about partial reimbursement from the state for counties offering driver's license services.

“It has to be cheaper for the state to have the counties doing it, but you get most all the money back from when it’s done,” County Auditor Shelly Barber commented.

Lindeen also brought up the question of funding for Public Health in consideration of regionalization and state-led mandates for that department.

“…Local county public health departments have been somewhat redundant,” Shipley added to conversation. “We have 99 of those, in each county. I think since the Medicaid reorganization in 2017, I don’t think they have been providing services as much as coordinating services.”

Collins agreed with Shipley saying, “At some point we have to start looking at things from a more regional approach.”

When Moeller asked if there was a consideration of the state handling public health like he has seen with mental health services, Shipley responded.

“We combined health and human services with the part of public health,” Shipley said. “That was a big thing. And, yeah, there's a lot in that area where there's a lot of cogs for government grinding against each other versus working in the same direction. So, I believe Director Garcia is going to be putting together some proposals here shortly that we'll talk about as legislature in terms of what's the most efficient way to deliver services.”

As the meeting concluded, Collins and Shipley encouraged the supervisors to continue to reach out and they would continue to hold discussions and find solutions working together.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com