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Des Moines County budget work session: ARPA wrap-up, levy notices and proposed rates discussed
Summary
County budget staff reviewed proposed levy rates, ARPA allocations and line-item adjustments ahead of required public hearings; staff said they will set the first public hearing next week and emphasized the need to finalize ARPA spending and provide audit-ready documentation.
Des Moines County budget staff presented a multi-page draft budget comparison to county supervisors and discussed changes to revenue and expense estimates, a plan to finalize ARPA spending, and the schedule for required public hearings on proposed levy rates.
Cheryl (budget director) walked supervisors through the draft. Key points included an updated estimate for local-option sales tax, adjustments tied to House File 718 affecting commercial/industrial replacement funds, and a re-estimate of motor-fuel refund and excise tax revenue. The county also reviewed transfers and departmental adjustments, including minor salary corrections and projected increases in tort liability and insurance-related line items.
County staff said they want to finalize remaining ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) obligations and report the program closed in the federal reporting system where possible. Staff noted pending invoices and retainage on the new public health building and certain bridge projects, and said they hoped to report ARPA as fully allocated by the March reporting deadline. The sheriff's mobile communications (Motorola) project and several bridge projects were discussed as potential ARPA uses, with county staff noting that all allocations must meet federal timing rules (allocations before Dec. 31, 2024 and expenditures by Dec. 31, 2026 in many cases).
On the levy, budget staff reviewed the Department of Management's guidance and the new practice of sending notices that reflect an automatic 10% adjustment to comparable prior-year values; staff warned that the notices will prompt many taxpayer calls. Staff said they will present a resolution next week to set the date/time of the first public hearing on proposed levy rates (a separate meeting required by statute) and that letters to taxpayers must be mailed by March 15. The board agreed to set the hearing date and to send the proposed levy notice with the budget director's recommended figures.
Staff also reviewed rural services supplemental strategy to stabilize the levy rate and noted changes to library and airport authority funding lines and other intergovernmental items. Several supervisors asked staff to prepare comparative figures showing the property-tax revenue needed to operate versus what the current levy rate would yield, to aid decision-making before adoption.
Ending: County staff will prepare the formal notice and resolution for next week's meeting, continue finalizing ARPA reporting and invoice reconciliation, and provide figures that compare property-tax needs against projected yield under the proposed levy.
