The Henry County Board of Supervisors has approved a significant amendment to the county attorney’s budget following a public hearing Thursday morning. The supervisors voted three-to-zero to increase the county attorney’s budget by $231,090.
The amendment comes after the county attorney’s office experienced several changes since the fiscal year 2027 budget was prepared and certified during the winter. During that budget process, all county departments were asked to reduce their budgets amid legislative discussions over property tax reform and House File 718. The legislation affects the amount of revenue available to counties for general operating expenses.
The personnel line item had been reduced in the county attorney’s FY27 budget, as the office had been reduced to three employees. With the county attorney’s office now back up to six employees, the office is experiencing higher personnel costs than were included in the original budget.
The amendment also accounts for a $30,540 court-ordered reimbursement to Henry County Deputy Carlos Lopez, which was paid out of the county attorney’s budget. The reimbursement followed Lopez’s successful removal from the Brady-Giglio list and the subsequent process to have his legal fees paid after he was determined to have been wrongly placed on the list.
Other expenses included in the amendment involve continuing education and training, office furniture, software and office cleaning, among other costs. Legal software programs were one of the larger expenses discussed during the hearing, along with increased personnel costs and other expenses associated with operating the county attorney’s office.
There was also a difference between the amount requested in the county attorney’s presentation and the amount included in the published budget amendment. County Attorney Becky Wilson’s presentation requested a total budget increase of $231,579. However, the published amendment was for $231,090.
Supervisor Detrick said he wanted to fund the full $231,579 dollars requested, pointing out that Iowa Code requires counties to operate with a balanced budget. However, also under Iowa Code, the supervisors could not increase the budget beyond the amount included in the published notice. Because the larger amount was not published for the public hearing, the board could not approve the additional $489 as part of Thursday’s amendment.
Following the public hearing and discussion, the Henry County Board of Supervisors approved the $231,090 increase to the county attorney’s budget on a three-to-zero vote.