Ringgold County holds budget meetings
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By Jeff Snyder
MOUNT AYR, Iowa — The Ringgold County Board of Supervisors kicked off their annual budget review meetings during Monday’s regular meeting.
First up on the packed agenda was Ringgold County Sheriff Rob Haley who presented to the supervisors his budget requirements for the 2027 fiscal year. Haley went through each of the line items on the budget in great detail. The review focused on past years’ results and the current yearly budget expectations highlighting where expenses could be trimmed without compromising department efficiencies.
The largest revenue entry was attributed to the City of Mount Ayr for their contracted police services provided by the sheriff’s department. The estimated income for the department to provide coverage to the city is $265,000. Since the city has no dedicated police department, these costs are in line with other municipalities that rely on county sheriff’s offices to provide adequate law enforcement protections. In addition to the day-to-day patrol functions, the sheriff’s department also operates the county jail facility. The building has a capacity for as many as 26 inmates at one time but rarely houses that many.
While in custody, the county is responsible for providing care, food and reasonable accommodations to inmates while incarcerated. Most inmates at the county level are transient in nature as their court cases meander their way through the judicial system. More serious offenders are typically transferred to larger state facilities which are better equipped to handle longer, more permanent sentences.
Currently, the sheriff’s department is made up of the sheriff and seven deputies. Inclusive in this roster is a newly named school resource officer who shares his duties with both the Mount Ayr Community Schools and the Diagonal school system. In addition to the field officers, the department also has as many as seven support personnel which make up the rest of the 24-hour per day employees who man the phones, run the jail and handle all the administrative duties of the department.
Haley went on to outline other major expenditures that are expected in the next fiscal year including the replacement of at least one police vehicle which is expected to cost the department approximately $60,000.
Other standout expenses were safety related such as protective vests and updated body and in-car camera equipment which are vital pieces of not only safety equipment but also prove invaluable when being asked to provide evidence in a criminal proceeding.
The number of items that drain financial resources is exhaustive. Uniforms, permits, dues, firearms and ammo even K-9 care all add to the financial pressure the sheriff’s office faces annually.
The remainder of the day consisted of a presentation by Dana Buls representing MATURA, the county’s community financial aid corporation which helps low income and families in need. According to Buls, MATURA delivered nearly $146,000 in direct assistance to community members. Of that figure $92,920 was in energy assistance programs called LIHEAP (low income energy assistance program). This represented help for 172 households and 313 total people.
MATURA has historically looked to the county for financial aid. This year, as in years past, the supervisors enthusiastically agreed to provide MATURA with a $10,000 donation to assist in their continued service to the community.
The board also welcomed Leesa Lestor from Southern Iowa Trolley, who outlined the status of this important rural transportation service that provides much needed transport in the remote portions of the county. Chief among these services is the shuttling of seniors to and from their medical appointments at various health care centers around the county. The service also provides transport to and from area grocery stores again providing an invaluable service to those without reliable transportation for this critical need. The board agreed to supply Southern Iowa Trolley with a $5,000 donation to help with their services.
Ringgold County Treasurer Debra Cannon briefed the board on the fiscal status of the treasury and outlined that the county was ahead on its budget projections which was largely attributed to increased fee collections and higher interest gains on use of money accounts held by the treasurer’s office. A request for salary increases was put forth and was added to the board’s decision pile which will be addressed when all the county departments have reported on their budget results for the year.
The last presenter of the day was Ringgold County Conservation Director Travis Scott updated the board on the pending Liberty Lake projects that have been previously entered into the county’s project list. The lake project consists of the completion of a “silt pond” connecting one end of the lake to the main body in an effort to aid in water flow filtration into the primary lake. In conjunction with the lake upgrades the conservation department has also started a trail project which will see a walking trail added to the entirety of the lake enabling visitors 360-degree access to the lake. These multiple projects are also tied to an expansion plan for the lake’s cabins and for future camping sites that are to be added to the Liberty facility. Scott has already secured almost $150,000 in grant funding to help complete the project.
The board has additional budget meetings planned throughout the week.
