Supervisor and county attorney clash over budget

MT. PLEASANT — A sharp exchange between Supervisor Steve Detrick and County Attorney Darin Stater dominated Henry County’s public budget hearing last week, as the two clashed over a proposed salary line increase for the County Attorney’s Office despite plans to reduce staff.

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Detrick expressed skepticism about the county attorney office budget increasing by 1% despite Office Manager Tammy Mulford leaving her position at the end of the calendar year and no plans to replace her. Stater defended the proposal and explained the intention to redistribute Mulford’s duties among existing staff.

“My office manager’s retiring, and instead of asking to have her replaced … I removed half of her salary, $33,000 [from the budget],” Stater said. “Her duties are going to have to be absorbed by my office … I only budgeted $16,000 to be used to pay my remaining employees to do her duties.”

According to Stater, the approach results in a net reduction of 4% in his budget. Detrick, however, pushed back on this claim, citing inconsistencies.

“With the numbers that you gave us in January, your budget went down 4%, OK, with what you had given us,” he told Stater. “However, that does not include the 5% [raise] that you anticipate giving all of your employees.”

“I'm lowering my budget 4%. You are giving everyone the 5%,” Stater clarified.

As Stater continued to defend his position and described duties that his office staff perform. The discussion unexpectedly turned personal as Detrick then referenced the job descriptions turned in by the County Attorney’s Office.

He stated Mulford’s job description appeared to be filled out by her but questioned who filled out the job description for Administrative Assistant Cara Ferguson. While Stater attempted to continue with his statement, Ferguson spoke up claiming that Detrick had insinuated that Stater had filled out her paperwork.

“Why would you think that he filled out my paperwork?” she asked. “Is it because I live with him?”

As the Board of Supervisors Chairman Marc Lindeen tried to get the discussion back on track Detrick was overheard asking Ferguson if she was admitting to a nepotism relationship with Stater.

Despite the interruption, Stater continued with his statement explaining finances in his department.

“This is the second year in a row I’ve voluntarily decreased my budget,” he added.

Detrick maintained concerns about how the increases were being distributed.

Henry County resident Bob Byczek further questioned why one employee would receive a 26% increase while another employee, taking on more responsibilities, would only receive an 8% increase.

“How is that fair?” he asked.

In comments following the public hearing Stater clarified that the salary increases were made in exchange for extra work each role is taking on.

According to Stater these increase include 21.5% for Nicole Rose who will take on the bulk of Mulford’s duties, 3.6% for Ferguson, 2.37% for the assistant county attorneys, and 0% increase for himself.

On top of these increases for duty redistribution each position will receive the 5% raise from the county.

Byczek raised concerns about transparency in the County Attorney’s Office, including dropped charges and the lack of public reporting on case outcomes. Supervisor Chad White later requested that Stater consider providing regular high-level summaries of the work being done.

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“I think it would dampen the burning embers if there was a little bit of information received,” White said.

Stater assured he could work something out with the supervisors to provide a report.

“I don’t know how valuable it’s going to be or what it’s really going to reflect,” Stater responded. “I’m perfectly willing to do that.”

Before the exchange, the board reviewed the full proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, including revenues, expenditures, and fund balances. The full account of this budget is available on the Henry County website.

The proposed budget includes a 5% salary increase for most elected officials and department heads, except for the sheriff, who will receive a 10% raise. Officials said the larger increase brings the sheriff’s pay closer in line with peers across the state.

One resident questioned the board’s own compensation.

“What’s the expectation for the supervisors with hours per week?” the resident asked. “You officially meet once a week … $45,000 a year for meeting once a week?”

“So this job is really a permanent part-time job,” Detrick responded. “OK, so the expectation, legally, I think the description, is a minimum of 20 hours a week. My personal experience … I’m spending somewhere in the neighborhood of about 45 hours a week doing work here, as well as on my computer, and then attending those meetings that I’m assigned to through the county.”

“It’s 24/7 I look at it, because there’s a lot — in the morning, two, three o’clock in the morning — I’m up and back to sleep because I’m considering what’s happening within the county,” Lindeen added.

The Board voted to approve the fiscal year 2026 budget, which totals $24,047,562. Appropriations include $699,810 for the County Attorney’s Office, $4.6 million for the Sheriff’s Department, and $7.4 million for the County Engineer. Other departments, including Public Health, Veterans Affairs, and Conservation, also received funding as outlined in the resolution.

While the budget and appropriations did pass, Detrick voted against the appropriations due to some “reservations.”

Lindeen thanked all the members of the public that attended the budget public hearing calling it the most important meeting of the year.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com