Mark Doland (R-Toledo).

We have turned the page on another year at the Tama County Board of Supervisors. Mid-January means that it is time for budget hearings and discussions. When the new board took over last January, we promised transparency and made a commitment to the taxpayer to use sound budgeting principles.

There is no way to sugarcoat it; our preliminary numbers for our budget look bleak. Our auditor/budget director entered our formula that governs our total budget allocation and there was virtually no increase from FY 2026. It is a misnomer that County Supervisors have unilateral authority to set the county budget at whatever rate they wish. There is a state law (Iowa House File 718) that the legislature has passed capping county budgets and growth through the levy formulation.

Our largest expenditure of tax dollars is compensation for employees and elected officials that provide services in the county. Our biggest decision for the budget is setting a percentage increase that is usually implemented to all wages. While we want to appreciate our employees and elected officials through pay increases, we must balance this with our responsibility to the taxpayer.

Prior years, employees were given raises of eight percent (FY 2024), eight percent (FY 2025) and two plus two percent (FY 2026). We have heard from department heads and elected officials and will continue to hear arguments advocating for large wage increases or “market adjustments” because our employees are underpaid compared to their peers in other counties. While this may be true of some or most of our departments, we cannot escape the ironclad truth that there is a limit to the allowable growth of dollars set by the legislature in Iowa House File 718.

It will be incumbent on taxpayers to pay attention to the upcoming budget hearings. Special attention must be given to proposals from department heads and elected officials to ensure fiscal responsibility. As the Board of Supervisors works to ensure a transparent budgeting process, we invite the public to participate and engage with your elected officials during the process. This will help us be proactive in our decision making and avoid unnecessary redress. Once the budget is set, it is very difficult to change.

We appreciate all of the input and feedback from our constituents. Through your participation, we will continue to make Tama County a great place to live and raise great, responsible leaders of the next generation.

Mark Doland of Toledo is the chairman of the Tama County Board of Supervisors.