VINTON – The approval of the Benton County budget for next fiscal year was tabled for one week, as the Benton County Supervisors heard from former Benton County Auditor Jill Marlow.
Marlow met with the board at the hearing for the proposed budget on Tuesday, April 22. Action was tabled for one week.
Marlow input
She addressed what was brought up at a levy meeting comparing Benton and Boone Counties, and why they were so different. She said Boone County is slightly larger than Benton County in population and valuation. Boone is close to Des Moines, just as Benton is close to Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.
She observed, “Obviously everything’s not apples to apples, but when I looked at Boone County’s budget for next year, the first thing I noticed was that in fiscal year 24 their ending fund balance was $12,43,000. Benton County’s ending fund balance was $27,635,000. When I was here last year I cautioned you guys about not being a bank.” She said levied taxes for next year in Boone County is $9.7 million. In Benton County, it is $17,286,000.
She added that in 2018, Benton County spent $1.9 million for administration. In 2024, it was $3.8 million.
She stressed, “We got a problem. The budget obviously is out of control.”
She read a document from the Tax Foundation, which says Benton County has the fourth fastest growing property tax increases in state between 2018 and 2024.
She warned that people on fixed incomes are not going to be able to afford property taxes.
She added that assessments have nothing to do with their job as supervisors with the budget.
Marlow said she looked at re-estimates for health insurance, information technology and the sheriff’s department. She also questioned if the collections department is self sustaining, or if it is subsidized by the taxpayers.
Marlow made several recommendations. She said they should not adopt a budget that day. It should be tabled. They need to refigure the budget, and look at re-estimates. She also wants them to lower levies. She said they need to reduce the 2025 appropriations.
Marlow suggested a hiring moratorium. “It seems like we hire an awful lot of people and we need to stop,” she said.
She said she was insulted when she read of the reasons for raising taxes was employee retention. She explained, “Keeping employees is important, but when there are people out here that are losing their jobs, investments are tanking — to tell me that you’re going to raise my taxes to keep employees when I’m losing my job, is an insult.”
She stressed the public needs to have a way to contact the supervisors.
She concluded, “Cut the taxes.”
Benton County Auditor Hayley Rippel agreed with Marlow that the budget should wait until the following week. She would also like to look at the re-estimated figures, so they know what their balances are.
Supervisor Ron Tippett made the motion to table approval of the budget for a week. Supervisors Bruce Volz seconded, and it was approved. They are not going to raise the published amounts, and they are going to look at the re-estimated figures.
“I love budgets,” Marlow grinned. “I don’t” replied Chairman Tracy Seeman.
Marlow also asked about the impact of budget cuts on secondary roads.
Seeman observed, “I hear from both sides. They want less taxes. I get it. I do too. I own a farm but on the same token, I still want gravel on my road.”
Marlow told Seeman, “You need to prioritize what is important to that county and fund those priorities.” She felt the county can provide services at less cost. She added, “But I’m not a supervisor.”
The next meeting in April 29 in Vinton.