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County marketing director asks for expanded budget for outreach, professional services and equipment
Summary
Black Hawk County's marketing director reviewed a first full-year budget and requested increased funding for outreach, training, professional services, signage and a camera kit to support county communications and rebranding work.
Black Hawk County's marketing director outlined a more developed FY26 budget for a department that launched less than two years ago and requested increases in outreach, professional services and equipment to sustain a growing communications program.
The director said the marketing operation supported roughly 16 county departments, branded about 164 county vehicles, and runs 21 social media accounts; primary social growth was 88% year over year. She presented a history of small startup budgets (about $11,795 initially, then roughly $24,000 for FY25) and explained that the FY26 request reflects a full year of activity.
Line-item requests included training and travel for professional development (including a multiweek strategic communication program), a new printing line for outreach materials, a miscellaneous supplies and outreach increase of $33,100 to support events and wayfinding signage, a $10,000 professional services line for on-call audiovisual and photography support, and capital for a camera kit (lenses, tripod, batteries, SD cards) to improve video and photo quality. The director said the professional services budget would allow the county to capture event photos and higher-quality video when staff cannot attend.
Board members asked how social and digital advertising is budgeted (the director said "mostly digital" and that advertising could include radio or print depending on strategic planning outcomes), whether outreach materials would be distributed digitally, and whether brochures and handouts would be created for events like Juneteenth. She confirmed the office is exploring a mailing/list platform to support an email newsletter, noting a platform subscription would carry additional fees.
Supervisors praised the department's growth and flagged the department's ongoing role in strategic planning and emergency communications. The director said she will continue to align the marketing budget with strategic-plan outputs and to coordinate with other departments for event promotion and signage needs.
No formal board vote was recorded on the marketing budget changes during the session; the item was presented as part of FY26 budget work sessions and will be incorporated into further budget deliberations.
