Jackson County approves budget amendment after public hearing

The Jackson County Board of Supervisors approved a budget amendment on Sept. 9, 2025, after holding a public hearing and taking questions from board members. The board adopted Resolution 1141-09-09-2025 authorizing changes to the FY25-26 county budget and authorizing the chair and auditor to sign the record for certification to the state of Iowa.

County staff described line-item changes and reimbursements during the hearing. Staff listed $70,000 budgeted for a replacement server in the auditor’s office, $30,600 for a replacement sanitation vehicle, $15,000 to amend this year’s allocation for drill equipment (used for soil sampling for septic systems), a $17,000 purchase for a zoning truck, an additional $104,684 from the general fund for final Stronghold jail construction costs (with the remainder taken from bond money), a $35,495 final cost for the Ashley Henson grant to be reimbursed, and $13,003 for delayed RCTP expenses. "The drill equipment...that's for soil sampling for septic systems," said a staff presenter, noting the county may recover some costs through reimbursements. Board members asked clarifying questions about coding of fair expenses and the timing of purchases; no public objections were recorded.

The board closed the public hearing by motion and voted to approve the resolution. Chair Don Swicker announced, "Motion carries." The resolution and signed record will be certified to the state as required.