[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6287292,"mediaKeyId","2554099-6ac29108c3205b89ceee72dde139f5ba","parentId",2554099,"title","Supervisors set April 1 public hearing for proposed property tax levy; several county motions approved in same meeting","audioSeconds",433,"startMs",375000,"endMs",808000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2554099-6ac29108c3205b89ceee72dde139f5ba&start=375&end=808","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2554099-6ac29108c3205b89ceee72dde139f5ba/thumbnail_375000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6287292/Pottawattamie-County/Iowa/Supervisors-set-April-1-public-hearing-for-proposed-property-tax-levy-several-county-motions-approved-in-same-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287292-82d7b94a395d63e2c32f4df1f7f72084/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178691&Signature=I31oy1bLHrsgWfEXCjl3nMR2VQc3E8ILRbOvjeIyYDdElvOL0bJWhI6iQotVamohEVowdCH-v777li73ywMnE9DbGlQjhPuhyfn546mYjdjP1a8dgX1ngyLQOobYIrLpNYMxNTlq8d9cbsBTsyTlEFACArjRCze1aJgirDGWYa9FgkWxNXdCewAXy9d3-eyPlvrgL2o-DKAx3zo~os9~5DxB5scyP-V3dNK352zluVNXwKzLy-qBIoBfXZOHSYUPwNznGBmSb2CwaeezVNyPrQsvyYkZ9zssonpCgVlvR8RxGVKlt5qLs9sSe7i8DmpogsK7JlnxrUJIyeVIV5ayMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pottawattamie County, Iowa","date","2025-03-11T20:12:10Z","article","POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY, Iowa — The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors set a public hearing for April 1 at 10 a.m. to consider the county’s proposed property tax levy for fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and approved multiple administrative and financial actions during the session.

Becky Linehan, finance and tax officer in the auditor’s office, presented a proposed property tax levy letter that must be published to notify property owners. Board members said the letters had already gone to the printer and asked whether levies should be formally set before the letters issued; staff clarified the mailed notices contain proposed levy rates and that the board will set final levies after the public hearing. The board approved holding a separate public hearing on April 1 at 10 a.m.; staff noted the budget-approval hearing will be held later in April (noted in the record as April 22 for budget approval).

During the meeting the board also approved routine and itemized motions and resolutions. Highlights and vote outcomes are summarized below.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Supervisors - Open Session - March 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board scheduled a separate public hearing for the proposed FY2025–26 property tax levy, raised concerns that levy rates had not been formally set before letters were printed, and approved a set of resolutions and administrative items including canvassing a school election and several finance motions.","taxTitle","taxId",25020,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6287297,"Supervisors approve FY25–26 employee health insurance renewal; staff urge boost to partial self-fund account",2661,1830000,4491000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2554099-6ac29108c3205b89ceee72dde139f5ba&start=1830&end=4491","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2554099-6ac29108c3205b89ceee72dde139f5ba/thumbnail_1830000.jpg","/articles/6287297/Pottawattamie-County/Iowa/Supervisors-approve-FY2526-employee-health-insurance-renewal-staff-urge-boost-to-partial-self-fund-account","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287297-6f8732434fa49efb36a35aca480c27c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178691&Signature=NobKdBvR8HxQo~BdzX1mkV2VdhFGEXp-VbcZWI4rRum8aK7Q~GcWyHYJ88qUBM71RQPuVYQhwkdpKT8gfzEKzP7ec40-BDFf1nXWi~tmUz8LLwzhF9m~xXU1qriOBjZA4w3Vf0n9Hatareh7JeeLqQ680YrKEfmBP6vx1kYw1O9bcyrmQEEq7JNbKWKDc3cTJsoHEJg3vv1bxzj2IHE78AsurWYo1REjBX2VaNYN1uvrnLky2czFH3B0qww6j7Ck~s4S98UoaB60pvwFt6CRKM3ki2eTbVYf4pPSAaTESfe5Jz-OUHZ~TfvZISUNcP-2ik7ufSel1Sv9zPoskF9Sqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY, Iowa — The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors voted to renew the county’s employee health insurance program for fiscal year 2025–26, continuing participation in the Iowa Group Health Care Plan (IGHCP) with administration through EBS and renewing dental and vision coverage with MetLife.

County human resources and benefits consultants told the board the county’s total annual health plan cost is just under $10 million; claims history shows the county’s five‑year average annual reimbursement for the partial self-fund (PSF) account is about $1.6 million while current budget contributions have been $1.3 million. Meeting materials showed the PSF account balance was about $376,000 through January of the current fiscal year and staff warned that, without additional contributions, the account could drop to roughly $200,000 by year end.

Because recent years have seen several high-cost claimants and elevated pharmacy costs, staff recommended making additional premium/contribution payments to the PSF account. Board members said a previously discussed plan would contribute $600,000 into the PSF before the fiscal year ends and add $200,000 in the next fiscal year; staff said that would raise the target funding level to approximately $1.6 million and smooth volatility in claim reimbursement.

Consultants also presented a fully insured versus self‑insured analysis. They reported that, given current claims trends, moving the county off IGHCP and fully self‑insuring would likely raise annual costs by roughly $2 million compared with remaining in the IGHCP pool; for the near term the consultants recommended remaining in the pool to avoid exposing the county to higher aggregate risk.

The board approved the renewal motion by roll call; all supervisors voted in favor. Staff said they would bring plan details and PSF funding mechanics back to the board for follow-up, including the timing of lump-sum payments and possible incorporation into monthly premiums.

Key figures discussed in meeting materials and staff presentation: total annual program cost approximately $10,000,014; five‑year average claims reimbursed from PSF approximately $1,600,000; current PSF contribution level $1,300,000; account balance about $376,000 through January (year-to-date July–January claims about $917,000). Consultants emphasized catastrophic pharmacy claims and several very high-cost individual claimants as drivers of the county’s elevated loss ratio.","The Board approved renewal of county employee health, dental and vision plans through IGHCP/EBS/MetLife and discussed adding $600,000 this year and $200,000 next year to the county’s partial self-funding (PSF) account to stabilize high claim utilization.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6287301,"Pottawattamie supervisors narrowly approve resolution supporting Council Bluffs voluntary annexation near 190 Second Street",708,917000,1625000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2554099-6ac29108c3205b89ceee72dde139f5ba&start=917&end=1625","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2554099-6ac29108c3205b89ceee72dde139f5ba/thumbnail_917000.jpg","/articles/6287301/Pottawattamie-County/Iowa/Pottawattamie-supervisors-narrowly-approve-resolution-supporting-Council-Bluffs-voluntary-annexation-near-190-Second-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287301-6877ce2477aa36b4f479650a7c4ee318/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178691&Signature=Yc7UjacW3rHhxUaXQ3Dq6vjO0YQq6p0ZmEvmIzoh5s9Q85ryFOcQL64ECjNsuMOh2UO8qNUaWdtMSo33aN8WNMaWhyEuhWW1cL~vx3aHXMWasHxGC90rdfb8XEzxuW7XsaQ5yha2M2PExb2o9kSSk2GuVJcMyE9RvFIGOIYdmdBEDjWkFLunxtKveupXUxn5MKKQY04ma13BTZeTv~UGERmYtcFB89sSqDBaTtPOQmh0hOkL3W9rHMMoj9In1OziegH814um7A65cMnsHVYAP5QGwbHCXXoyigSVFpxg5Njyc~DXwKE3O6J~6GpXHzuVeApxhEeX3Nh9JIBUn8-p5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY, Iowa — The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors voted 3–2 to approve a resolution supporting a voluntary annexation by the City of Council Bluffs that would add roughly 473 acres near 190 Second Street to the city.

The supervisors debated traffic, road maintenance responsibilities and whether the county’s written recommendations had been reflected in the city’s annexation boundaries. The board approved the measure after several supervisors said they view the annexation as a potential economic development opportunity but asked for further follow-up on infrastructure and boundary concerns.

Board members and county staff said the primary local concerns raised at a public hearing were increased traffic at several intersections (including Bongi Fongi Avenue and Omaha Bridal Road) and how future roadwork would be shared between the city and county. County staff said developers will be required to provide traffic studies as part of project approvals, and that engineers from the county, Mills County and the city are meeting to coordinate reviews.

County staff noted the annexation process follows state statute that generally takes property to the centerline of roads when annexing; that practice was cited several times as the reason only half of some rights-of-way would be included. County engineers have previously worked out border swaps with neighboring jurisdictions, staff said, and supervisors discussed pursuing similar arrangements if needed.

Supervisor comments reflected differing priorities. One supervisor said the annexation “is economic development” and urged moving ahead, while other supervisors said they were disappointed county recommendations sent to Council Bluffs were not incorporated and wanted a separate county resolution that would articulate any objections to the proposed boundaries. The board's approved resolution will be included in the public record submitted to the city; the state review process was described as a subsequent step.

The vote tally recorded on the meeting minutes was: Chairman Bell — Nay; Supervisor Miller — Aye; Supervisor Shea — Nay; Supervisor Whitman — Aye; Supervisor Jorgensen — Aye. Supervisors said the board will draft and consider another resolution next week to clarify any county positions and formally record comments for the city and state review.

The annexation matter had been the subject of a public hearing hosted by the city; county staff said they had submitted a letter with recommended changes to the boundaries but had not been notified that the city adopted those recommendations. The board’s action is an expression of support to forward to Council Bluffs and the State for review; whether the final area changes will rest with the State review, staff said, was unclear to some supervisors.","After prolonged discussion about traffic and road standards, the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors voted 3–2 to approve a resolution supporting a voluntary annexation by the City of Council Bluffs affecting acreage near 190 Second Street; supervisors said a follow-up resolution will appear next week.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Supervisors set April 1 public hearing for proposed property tax levy; several county motions approved in same meeting

Supervisors approve FY25–26 employee health insurance renewal; staff urge boost to partial self-fund account

Pottawattamie supervisors narrowly approve resolution supporting Council Bluffs voluntary annexation near 190 Second Street