County approves FY22 budget, salaries, and FY21 amendments

Board of Supervisors
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     During the March 30 Jones County Supervisor meeting, the board held a public hearing and adopted the Fiscal Year 2022 county budget.

     County Auditor Whitney Hein shared some facts and figures with the board and public present. Expenditures for FY22 are estimated at $19,621,004; revenues, $18,158,084.

     In terms of expenditures, Hein noted that 41 percent of the county’s budget is spent on roads and transportation ($8,082,747). Other notable expenditures include: 18 percent on public safety and legal services ($3,529,620), 10 percent on administration ($2,050,876), and 9 percent on county environment and education ($1,793,630).

     Additionally, 45 percent goes to employee wages and benefits ($8,766,701), 20 percent to services ($3,851,100), and 19 percent toward supplies ($3,816,116).

     Revenues are comprised of: 48 percent property and utility taxes ($8,633,695), 38 percent intergovernmental ($6,869,123), and 7 percent other taxes ($1,191,583).

     Hein also shared comparisons of the county’s urban and rural levy rates over the last 20 years.

     “The levy rates have stayed pretty steady the last few years,” she said. “There’s been a steady incline the last few years due to valuation increases.”

     There is a 3.33 percent increase in the taxes that are being levied, though (dollar rate increase).

     Supervisor Joe Oswald remarked that it’s nice to see the county spending down its carryover funds. The county anticipates a carryover of $8,855,504 from FY21 into FY 22. At the end of FY22, the county estimates a carryover of $7,392,584 from FY22 into FY23. Oswald said the idea is to not have as much carryover from year to year.

     In approving the FY22 budget, the board voted on the salaries for elected officials. A 2-3 vote to approve a 0 percent pay increase for the board of supervisors failed. Supervisors Jeff Swisher and Ned Rohwedder made the motion and seconded. Supervisors Rohwedder, Oswald, and Jon Zirkelbach were opposed. (The Compensation Board initially proposed a 2 percent increase for the supervisors.)

     “I didn’t get into this job to make money,” said Swisher.

     Oswald, Rohwedder, and Zirkelbach explained that the supervisors no longer get reimbursed for mileage.

     “We all have meetings outside of the county we attend and don’t get mileage,” Rohwedder said.

     The board voted unanimously to approve a 20 percent reduction in the Compensation Board’s salary recommendations.

     The Comp Board recommended the following:

     • 6 percent increase for Attorney, $112,922.76

     • 2 percent increase for Auditor, $72,474.94

     • 3.5 percent increase for Recorder, $68,801.55

     • 6 percent increase for Sheriff, $97,327.26

     • 3.5 percent increase for Treasurer, $71,327.26

     • 2 percent increase for supervisors, $31,518.56

     The supervisors approved the following with the 20 percent reduction:

     • 4.8 percent increase for Attorney, $111,644.39

     • 1.6 percent increase for Auditor, $72,190.70

     • 2.8 percent increase for Recorder, $68,336.23

     • 4.8 percent increase for Sheriff, $96,078.11

     • 2.8 percent increase for Treasurer, $70,844.86

     • 1.6 percent increase for supervisors, $31,394.96

     The board also passed a resolution to adjust the FY21 appropriations for all county departments. Those departments include: JETS, Veterans Affairs, Central Park Lake Project, Substance Abuse, Senior Dining, and the Wapsipinicon Trail Project.

     The appropriations were mostly the result of departmental savings due to COVID-19.

     Finally, the board adopted the FY21 budget amendment. This covers all county departments with an overall budget reduction of $576,904.

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