A member of the Dallas County Supervisors dives deeper into the role they play for the area.

Supervisor Mark Hanson has been on the committee since 2004 and admits that many people don’t fully understand the duties they do for the county. Hanson, who lives in Waukee, acknowledges that he pays city taxes, and that several entities of a police department or city council determine his living expenses. Hanson gives a glimpse of the responsibilities the supervisors have.

“We do mental health. We do public health. The sheriff runs the jail and the judicial system, we got to provide space for that. The elections, the real estate, the tax collection, emergency management as appropriate, so these are all functions that the county provides.”

Hanson announces that Dallas County was the lowest taxed county in Iowa in 2023 and with an increase in the tax rate, the county moved up to fourth of 99 counties.