Supervisors Approve 2014-15 Budget
By Eduardo Zamarripa, CRI Weekly News
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the 2014-15 budget on Monday morning.
“I think it’s a pretty good budget, and I think department heads did a good job of keeping costs down,” said Supervisor Mike Vander Molen.
The board held a public hearing on the budget and received one comment.
Joe Warrick asked why the county took out $3,000 from the roads and transportation fund. He also asked whether that money had been taken out of the budget for Secondary Roads of Mahaska County. Vander Molen said the budget for Secondary Roads was approved, as presented, with a 4 percent increase.
County Auditor Sue Brown said there could be a number of reasons why the allotted funds for a specific category were higher one year, but it doesn’t mean the county cut money from the roads and transportation funds.
Following the approval of the budget, the board also unanimously approved two resolutions in regards to the budget: the capital improvement fund and the economic development fund. The capital improvement fund approves the following:
- County contributions toward construction of an Environmental Learning Center at Caldwell Park ($20,000 per year until money is raised)
- New voting system for elections ($37,000 per year)
- Courthouse buildings and grounds repairs/improvements (cost as needed)
In other agenda items, the board unanimously approved a liquor license for Tassel Ridge Winery. The board also went into closed session for 25 minutes to discuss Regional Utility Service Systems (RUSS) arbitration. No action was taken.
The next board of supervisors meeting is on March 17 at 9 a.m.
