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Veterans Affairs seeks funding for outreach, training after state education reimbursement change
Summary
Sonia Leith, administrator for the Carroll County Veterans Affairs Office, told supervisors that House File 2663 changed state reimbursement rules and added a $3,000-per-county training allocation; the office proposes reserving part of that and shifting some state allocation money to pay for an expanded twice-yearly newsletter and training.
Sonia Leith, administrator for the Carroll County Veterans Affairs Office, reviewed the office's fiscal year 2026 budget at the county supervisors meeting and described a state policy change that affects training reimbursements and local administration.
Leith said House File 2663, adopted the prior July, created a separate state reimbursement allocation for continuing education and training that counties must document and then submit receipts to the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs for reimbursement. “That extra $3,000 that…is going to put in that we're asking would always stay in that line,” Leith told the board, describing how the county would use the allocation for national training and continuing-education credits.
Leith proposed moving roughly $1,000–$1,500 annually into the education line that would be reimbursable by the state, freeing some of the department's regular $10,000 annual allocation for programs such as the office's twice-yearly newsletter (color printing estimated to have increased from about $1,300 to $1,793). She said the newsletter is a key local outreach tool targeted to Carroll County veterans and brings many inquiries to the office.
On services and contingency lines, Leith said the county maintains a modest allocation for prescription assistance, utility assistance and funeral-related costs for veterans. She noted the county previously provided small grave-marker and maintenance support for small private church cemeteries and cited a 2024 legislative change: Iowa Code chapter 35B.17, the statutory maintenance-of-graves requirement, was repealed in 2024, removing a state mandate for counties to maintain some small church cemeteries; the county said it intends to continue voluntary maintenance if the board approves the budget line. Leith said the county spent roughly $3,220 on cemetery maintenance last year.
Leith also advised the board about federal credentialing for county veterans administrators: newly hired administrators must obtain national accreditation and a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card within their first year to access federal veterans records; the PIV process involves fingerprints and identity verification at a federal facility and provides staff access to federal claim and service records.
Leith closed by asking supervisors whether the county would continue cemetery maintenance funds and by explaining how the state reimbursement process will work in practice—county staff will file forms and submit receipts to the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs for reimbursement to the county treasury.
Speakers quoted or referenced: Sonia Leith, Administrator, Carroll County Veterans Affairs Office; Jim Breggeman, Chair (Veterans Affairs Commission) referenced as present.
Why it matters: State changes to reimbursement and statutory maintenance duties affect county veterans services funding, outreach and operational requirements, and may change how county staff pursue training and reimbursements.
