Supervisors mull staff cut, responses to impacts of House File 718

By Zach Jensen,

The Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors is considering either cutting a county position or having departments share a full-time employee in response to concerns over Iowa House File 718.

HF718 — a bill which addresses property taxes, financial authority and county government budgets — passed the Iowa Legislature with bipartisan support in 2023. The chief complaint about the law, according to Winneshiek County Auditor Ben Steines,  is that it essentially limits the amount of property tax counties can collect each year. 

Following the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors’ Jan. 21 meeting, Steines said HF718 could prompt the county to declare an emergency two or three years from now due to resulting budget issues. However, during the board’s regular meeting on Monday morning, some supervisors shared the belief that the county might need to begin making cuts now in order to prevent additional cuts from happening in the future. The board is also considering whether or not to fill the position left open after Tim Smock, an employee in the county treasurer’s office, was recently appointed to serve as county treasurer.

In his FY2025-26 budget proposal, Smock reported his department’s online services were available to everyone in the county and that more people are using them, said Supervisor Steve Kelsay.

“He also said, though, that it didn’t reduce the amount of work they do in the office,” Supervisor Shirley Vermace replied. 

Vermace and Langreck volunteered to contact the county’s department heads and inquire whether they feel they can afford to cut or share a full-time employee.

Full article available in the January 30 Decorah Leader.

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