Johnson County supervisors discuss redistricting bill, ambulance tax option and other state legislation; agree to draft governor letter

The Board of Supervisors used a chunk of its April 2 work session to review pending state legislation and plan a county response to bills that board members said would affect local governance, budgets and election administration.

Supervisors identified Senate File 75 — a measure that would require supervisor districts in Johnson, Black Hawk and Story counties — as a primary concern and asked staff to draft a formal letter to the governor stating the board’s opposition. Board members said the bill’s carve-out affecting only three counties raises home-rule and representative-government concerns; they also flagged the administrative costs the change could impose on county election and redistricting processes.

County Assistant Attorney Ryan Moss told the board the county attorney’s office generally does not represent individual officials in litigation challenging state laws and that any suit would likely require a private plaintiff asserting personal harm. “Assistant county attorney Ryan Moss” explained that a county entity typically lacks standing to sue the state except in narrow circumstances where the state’s action would expose a county official to liability; he recommended private counsel if supervisors seek litigation on their own behalf.

The nut graf: Supervisors asked staff to prepare a governor-facing letter opposing the redistricting provision and to circulate it for review; board members also asked administration and the auditor’s office to estimate election-notice and precinct-redistricting costs and to coordinate with other affected counties.

Other bills discussed: supervisors said language capping building-permit fees at $500 had been removed from a bill under committee negotiation and described that change as a partial win. They also discussed tax-reform legislation that could affect county bonding and budgeting beginning in fiscal 2027 and requested more detail from state associations. Finally, supervisors reviewed newly enacted state language (Senate File 42) that expands the financing options for emergency medical services; staff said the law appears to allow counties, upon adopting a resolution declaring emergency medical services an essential county service, to seek voter approval for a local-option surtax or property-tax levy to fund EMS. Supervisors asked county counsel and finance staff to analyze whether that option could apply to Johnson County and how any referendum would be structured.

Auditor and elections staff advised supervisors that redistricting or precinct changes would create legally required public notices and a countywide mailer that add costs; the auditor noted public-notice and postcard-mailing obligations and said the county would calculate expense estimates to share with supervisors. Supervisors asked county communications to coordinate messaging and signaled an interest in issuing a public statement after the governor-letter is finalized.

Ending: The board directed staff to circulate a draft letter opposing the redistricting measure, compile cost estimates for precinct and election-notice changes, and obtain a legal summary of the EMS surtax option and bonding-rule changes for follow-up discussion.