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Veterans' service officer budget: commissioners seek modest increases for burial, emergency aid and training reimbursement process
Summary
The county's veterans service officer outlined line-by-line budget proposals including increases to burial and emergency assistance accounts and explained a new reimbursement process for training that affects revenue and expense lines.
Dan Green, the county's veterans service officer, and commissioners reviewed a line-item budget for the veterans office. Commissioners present asked that the board consider modest increases for several direct-assistance accounts and recommended pay recognition for the director.
Key points - Line-item adjustments: The director proposed leaving many operating accounts steady but recommended increasing the services-to-veterans account (food, rent, utilities) from $800 to $1,000 to allow emergency assistance of up to $500 per family before the account would be depleted. He also asked to increase the burial assistance account from $2,000 back to $4,000 to allow payment for two veteran burials if needed. - Training reimbursement: The director described a process in which training costs are incurred by the county and then submitted to the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) for reimbursement. He said the IDVA allocation of $3,000 for required training will show as revenue in the county budget and reduce net expense in that account. - Mileage, vehicle and supplies: Several routine reductions were proposed (meeting mileage reduced by roughly 16%, motor vehicle maintenance reduced because the county vehicle is newer). A $1,900 data processing equipment line remains for copier/fax/PC costs. - Personnel recognition: Commissioner Carol Bernhardt urged the board to consider a 4% raise for Director Dan Green, citing increased benefits secured for local veterans and his mentoring role with other counties.
Board response and next steps - Supervisors asked clarifying questions about how reimbursements flow through county accounts and reminded staff to budget reimbursements as both expenditure and revenue entries so the budget reflects both sides of the transaction. - Supervisors did not take a formal vote on the proposed increases at the meeting; the director's requests will be included in the overall FY26 budget materials for the conference board to review.
