~by Janice Harbaugh for GreeneCountyNewsOnline
The Greene County supervisors will have more revenue to work with in formulating the FY23 budget, thanks to an increase in taxable valuation of agricultural land in the county.
Pam Olerich, county real estate and tax coordinator, reported the county’s January 1, 2021 taxable valuation information was filed with the Iowa Department of Management She reported rural values have increased 13.6 percent and urban values decreased 3.1 percent. The two values combined yields an increase in taxable valuation of 8.97 percent. That’s in important number in computing tax levies for the 2022-23 budget, as it’s the valuation multiplied by the levy rate that determines available funds.
Before conducting any business at the first meeting of the year, the supervisors nominated and appointed current board chair John Muir and vice-chair Dawn Rudolph for another year each in those positions. The vice-chair serves as chair pro tem in the chair’s absence.
Muir reported the compensation board’s recommendations of increases for elected officials. The compensation board recommended a 15 percent increase for the sheriff and county attorney; 10 percent increase for auditor and treasurer; and 8 percent increase for recorder and supervisors.
The compensation board’s recommendation for the sheriff’s salary increase was in response to new state legislation that requires counties to set the sheriff’s salary to be comparable to salaries of state police administrators and police chiefs in cities of similar population.
No action was taken on the recommendations.
Muir said, “I’m displeased with the state legislature interfering with this process, which will fail anyway. The legislature doesn’t know our budget. I’m disappointed in that process, taking more and more control from local (boards.)”
“The voters elected us to make decisions,” Muir said. “We make the best decisions we can with the cards we’re dealt.”
Engineer Wade Weiss asked whether the board has determined a wage increase percentage for non-elected officials to be included in the FY2023 budget. That wage figures into the secondary roads budget he will present to the supervisors.
Muir said the board has not determined that.
The supervisors heard FY2023 funding requests from Central Iowa Tourism, the Greene County Early Learning Center, and Bell Tower Festival.
Ann Vogelbacher, director of the Central Iowa Tourism Region, sent a letter requesting $400 in funding for FY2023, the same as in past years.
According to their website, the Central Iowa Tourism Region contains 35 counties in central Iowa from the northern to southern borders.
Cherie Cerveny, director of ELC, and board members Jacque Andrew and Bill Monroe, requested $7500 for the Center, an increase from last year’s funding of $5000.
Cerveny said the center has been open 16 years and was open the entire year with no closures due to COVID. She said there is a waiting list of 10 children. Cerveny said the targeted date for opening the new facility is late May or early June.
As reported previously, the county has committed to a $250,000 funding for the center. Auditor Jane Heun reported $100,000 has been paid.
Philip Heisterkamp requested $5000 in funding for the Bell Tower Festival to be held in June, 2022. This is an increase of $2,000 over FY2022 funding.
Heisterkamp said 2022 is the 150th anniversary of Jefferson and the festival is “looking for high-quality entertainment.”
He said the festival also has a separate budget within the Main Street and Chamber organization.
No funding action was taken by the board as budgeting is done after all requests have been heard.
The board presided at a public hearing to hear written or oral objections to the county’s proposed election precincts. As previously reported, no changes had been made to the county’s central, east, north, or west precincts. The city of Jefferson reduced its three precincts to two. The two precincts were added to the county’s election precinct ordinance to meet state guidelines.
No written or oral objections were received by the board and the public hearing was closed.
The board unanimously approved the third reading of the election precinct ordinance and adopted the ordinance.
The board reviewed procedures, appointments, meeting times, business hours, depositories for funds, and other items, and adopted them for 2022. These can be found in the minutes under Agendas and Minutes on GCNO.
