The Greene County board of supervisors will use funds from the local option sales and service tax for the $5,000 it committed to the Iowa Drainage District Association to assist in defending three counties in a lawsuit filed by the Des Moines Water Works.
The board made that decision at its July 6 meeting. The board had agreed in principle in May to contribute to the defense. After lively discussion, they did not come to consensus about what part of the county budget that donation should come from. Assessing property owners in drainage districts was one option, and LOSST revenues was another. LOSST revenues are earmarked for rural use only; they cannot be used in the general fund. “This is everybody’s problem. It’s not just drainage,” supervisor Dawn Rudolph said.
For an earlier GreeneCountyNewsOnline post, click here: May 18 DMWW lawsuit
Auditor Jane Heun reminded the supervisors that a budget amendment will be required before the funds are available. She does not plan to do the amendment soon, but to wait until other changes can be included. The current fiscal year started July 1.
