Woodbury County supervisors remove all FY26 improvement requests from proposed budget

WOODBURY COUNTY, Iowa 2D The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 to remove all departmental improvement requests from the proposed FY26 budget, the board decided after a discussion prompted by county auditors27 updated revenue figures.

County Auditor Michelle Scaff told the board the county27s general basic fund deficit had been reduced to about $2.1 million after newly identified revenues were added to the budget model. With certain improvement requests removed, Scaff said the deficit would be about $1.7 million. "We did have a few findings at that point. These items ... have been identified since last week's meeting, in revenue that we've received and never budgeted," Scaff said as she presented the updated spreadsheet to the board.

The auditors and supervisors also discussed a $2 million reduction in expected federal inmate revenue for FY25, which Scaff said she had already reflected in the beginning balance. She told the board the current proposals would leave general basic reserves near 16 percent if adopted as shown.

After discussion about how to handle departmental staffing and pay requests, one supervisor moved to remove all improvement requests from the proposed FY26 budget; another seconded the motion. The board approved the motion unanimously. The county treasurer clarified for the public that the term "improvement requests" referred to requests from departments for added staffing, changes in personnel grades or steps and similar personnel funding requests.

Supervisors said the plan is to return next week with individual agenda items to consider each improvement request on its merits and to host work sessions over the next three Tuesdays to review budget reductions. The board and staff also agreed to circulate the updated spreadsheets used in the presentation to supervisors.

No formal reductions beyond removing the improvement requests were adopted at the meeting; staff said individual items could be added back later if the board approved them. The motion to remove the requests carried 4-0.

The board discussed scheduling and legal deadlines for final adoption and publication. Scaff advised that the adopted budget must be provided to the county's publishing staff so legal notices can be printed; she said changes can still be made up to adoption but cautioned on timing requirements.

Ending: Board members scheduled additional work sessions and a focused review next week to evaluate individual improvement requests and potential cuts before finalizing the FY26 budget.