The Dallas County Board of Supervisors presented and approved their fiscal year 2018 budget Tuesday.

Board Chairman Kim Chapman walked attendees through the process, pointing out the large population growth since 1980.  The County continues to compare its numbers to other similarly populated counties such as Pottawattamie, Dubuque, Warren and Story. The proposed countywide levy was approved at $19.90.  The total urban levy is $3.90 and rural levy at $7.84 per $1,000 in taxable valuation.  Of the comparison group, Dallas County continues to have the highest Tax Increment Financing of over $600 million.  Dallas County’s revenues are estimated at $38.5 million in fiscal year 2018 and expenditures are estimated at $43.2 million.

The County continues to take 12.8 percent of the county taxes, while Schools get more than 47 percent and cities receive almost 39 percent.  Public safety and legal services are estimated to receive $12.6 million in the next fiscal year, physical health and social services will receive $3.7 million, mental health, intellectual disability and development disabilities will receive $2.7 million, county environment and education $4.7 million, roads and transportation $8.5 million, government services to residents $2.3 million, administration $19 million.

Chapman also talked about future challenges including the law enforcement center, space for driver’s license services, court space, remaining competitive with employee compensation and benefits, assessment of technology and meeting the needs of both rural and urban residents.

Operations and Finance Director Rob Tietz says this is his second time preparing the County budget and the process was well underway when he started his employment here last year.  He says there are not a lot of difference between fiscal year 2017 and 2018.  The county’s levy continues to increase by around 7.5 percent over a three year period.  Overall, Tietz says there were no real changes this year, other than organic growth in the county.  In this next fiscal year, the County is expected to add four and a half full time employees but no levy increase is needed to be able to do so.

Tietz and Chapman took time to point out that the increase in tax dollars going to provide law enforcement and legal services, the extra money being spent is not staying in the County.  Instead it is going to pay other counties in the region as the current facilities do not meet the County’s needs.

After the hearing, the Board approved the compensation board’s recommendation for salary increases for elected officials and the budget as presented.