Woodbury County adopts FY2026 budget; board approves 2% across-the-board pay increase for elected offices

The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors on April 29 adopted its fiscal year 2026 budget and approved a 2% across‑the‑board pay increase for elected officials, following extensive discussion about stipends, deputies’ wages and the limits imposed by Iowa law.

Auditor staff reviewed adjustments made since the last budget meeting — including a $10,000 transfer recently approved and corrections to a Veterans Affairs line item — and presented reserve and levy estimates that the board used to finalize the plan. The presenter said the county’s projected ending reserve balance for FY2026 would be about 22.9% and explained that differences in the state rollback, not the levy, would increase the county portion of property taxes by roughly $7.74 per $100,000 of assessed value under the budget as presented.

The board set and opened the required public hearing on the proposed budget at the 4:45 p.m. time set on the agenda and, receiving no public comment, closed the hearing. After deliberations on whether to accept compensation board recommendations and how to treat one-time stipends, supervisors voted on wage proposals. A motion that would have set elected officials’ raises at 0% with a 4% exception for the auditor failed. A subsequent motion to adopt a 2% across‑the‑board increase passed on a roll‑call vote (Carper, Dietrich and Binger in favor; Nelson opposed).

Chair moved to adopt the FY2026 budget and associated resolution incorporating the changes made during the meeting. The motion carried 5-0. Staff reminded the board the signed budget must be returned to the auditor by 4:30 p.m. the next day to meet statutory deadlines.

The meeting record shows the board also corrected a clerical entry for the Veterans Affairs budget (the line had been entered as 1,148 and should read 11,480) and approved the consent agenda and routine claims earlier in the session.

What happens next: the budget and resolution will be signed and filed as required by Iowa Code; payroll adjustments reflecting the 2% increase will be implemented through the county payroll process and will affect deputies whose pay is statutorily tied to elected officials in later processing steps. The board and staff noted continued monitoring of reserves and the potential for more significant cuts or adjustments in future fiscal years if revenue or expense conditions change.