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Mahaska County supervisors adopt $2026–27 budget, set amendment hearing for May 18
Summary
The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the fiscal year 2026–27 budget April 20, 2026, set a budget‑amendment hearing for May 18 and approved related payroll and benefits adjustments, after limited public hearing and staff presentations.
The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously April 20 to adopt the county’s fiscal year 2026–27 budget after a public budget hearing and staff presentations.
The board also approved setting a Budget Amendment Hearing for May 18, 2026, at 9:05 a.m. and approved payroll changes for the Conservation department. Motions to adopt the budget and to set the amendment hearing were made by Member Chuck Webb and seconded by Vice Chair Steve Wanders; votes were recorded as "all aye." (Motion to set amendment hearing: SEG 011. Motion to adopt budget: SEG 022.)
Why it matters: adopting the budget establishes county spending priorities for the coming fiscal year and sets the framework for departmental personnel and operating decisions. During the public budget hearing, Micah VanMersbergen thanked the board for its work on the budget, and Chair Mark Groenendyk discussed levies the county will share with the state; the transcript does not list levy amounts.
Staff and benefit adjustments: Lindsey Thomas and Eric Dursky presented a proposal to increase employee contributions for health and pharmacy by 2.5 percent to help cover administrative cost increases; the board approved that proposal by unanimous vote (SEG 018). The transcript does not identify the full financial impact of that contribution change on the budget beyond the stated percentage.
County Attorney budget discussion: Andrew Ritland urged limiting increases to the County Attorney’s Office budget and said sharing an attorney with another county was not viable at this point; he warned that reducing personnel could affect state revenue and services. The transcript records the proposal and concerns but does not show a separate motion or final action tied to the County Attorney’s budget in the provided segments (SEG 020).
Next steps: the board will hold the scheduled Budget Amendment Hearing on May 18, and staff will follow up on the items discussed during department presentations.
