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Supervisors putting pencil to paper for budget

As New Year’s Day celebrations faded into the month of January, Marshall County Supervisors and staff have resumed meetings with department heads formulating the county’s 2020-21 budget.

Board Chairman Steve Salasek of rural Ferguson is pleased so far.

“We are off to a good start,” he said of meetings which have taken place since Christmas.

“The department heads have attempted to present funding requests within the boundaries we have established,” he said. “To date, we have met with Public Health and the Treasurer’s Office administrators and others. We will be meeting with Jennifer Miller of the County Attorney’s Office, County Engineer Paul Geilenfeldt and Sheriff Steve Hoffman. The process will continue for another two weeks.”

Salasek said Secondary Roads and Sheriff’s Office expenditures have historically been two of the largest budget requests due to their responsibilities.

“This is my third time working on the budget,” Salasek said. “I am fortunate, my business experience working with Key Cooperative/Central Counties Cooperative before taking retirement. My background has been helpful. I managed a grain and agronomy facility in Gilman for more than 20 years.”

Marshall County Auditor/Recorder Nan Benson of rural State Center, who is also working on her third county budget, shared Salasek’s outlook.

“We have had productive meetings,” she said. “And I am looking forward to them continuing. We will be mindful of potential expenses not covered by insurance as we continue working to get the courthouse repaired.”

Benson said the county’s budget has been approximately $25 million in recent years, which includes taxes collected, grants and other funds.

Taxes are used to pay county expenses, with certain allotments to the 10 school districts within the county, 13 incorporated communities, Marshalltown Community College, 16 townships, the assessor and agriculture extension.

The next regular supervisor’s meeting is 9:05 a.m. Tuesday, in the second floor conference room of Great Western Bank, 11 N. First Ave.

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