Cedar County supervisors approve $11,000 board cut and eliminate two part‑time zoning positions

The Cedar County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 27 approved targeted budget reductions intended to limit the county’s levy increase, including an $11,000 cut to the Board of Supervisors budget and the elimination of two part‑time positions in the Environmental & Zoning department.

Supervisor Barnhart moved, and Supervisor Gaul seconded, a motion to remove $11,000 from the Board budget. The reductions were specified as $1,000 less in wages per Board member, a $5,000 cut to mileage, and $500 each from printed legals and printed minutes; Supervisors Bell and Bixler were recorded as absent and the motion passed.

Later in the meeting, Finance Director Dauber presented a handout summarizing department‑level submissions in response to a prior directive to reduce budgets by roughly 4%. After reviewing revised figures, Supervisor Gaul moved and Supervisor Barnhart seconded implementation of the Environmental & Zoning reductions, which the Board approved. The minutes record that two part‑time positions were eliminated as part of those changes.

The Board discussed additional operational adjustments, including a possible reduction of standard 40‑hour workweeks to 37.5 hours for some positions. The minutes note a consensus that entities across the county will feel fiscal pressure in the coming year as the Board seeks to minimize levy increases.

The Board also agreed to meet with HR Attorney Galloway before May 1, 2026 to begin the FY27/28 budgeting process earlier and to discuss personnel and implementation questions arising from the cuts. The meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m.; the Board scheduled reconvening March 3, 2026.

No statutes, ordinances or contract awards were cited in the meeting minutes; the actions recorded were motions approving budget reductions and staffing changes.