It is disappointing to read in the Times-Republican about the delays from the Marshall County Auditor and Recorder’s Office at completing major tasks. The valuations that are conducted by the County Auditor/Recorder’s Office were delayed several weeks beyond the deadline set in the Iowa code, hampering our local governments to complete their budgets in a timely manner. The current Auditor/Recorder, Nan Benson, admitted on KFJB Radio to the delays and said that parts of the valuations have not been done correctly for a couple of years. What tax ramifications does this have for our towns, townships, schools and county? Additionally, last summer I read in the Times-Republican that there were delays in the Auditor/Recorder’s Office getting the tax information to the Treasurer for tax statement billing. The recurring tardiness is concerning.

Oddly, this past week’s local election had some strange polling locations set by the Auditor/Recorder’s Office. Four rural townships, Washington, Timber Creek, Logan and Jefferson, all voted in the southeast corner of the four townships in Laurel. Also Le Grand, Marion and Green Castle townships all voted in Le Grand. If the intention was to make it convenient for voters, it was not. Many voters were confused as these polling locations were in rural areas of the county that they have never voted at in previous elections. If the intention was to decrease locations to curb costs to the taxpayer, that didn’t happen either because Marshalltown Community College would have been utilized as the central location for all seven townships.

Then better outreach with the media should have been used to get these polling locations out widely to the public. Could the minimal public outreach of these locations be to suppress the vote? Is that the same reason the Auditor/Recorder’s Office has been quiet on not letting the public know which of the county election positions are up for election this November, including the Auditor/Recorder position?

It seems to me we can do better than this. The job pays $94,000 with full benefits. I would think there is someone out there for us to get a better bang for our taxpayer bucks. If you are interested, go to the Iowa Secretary of State website to find the information on running for county office. The deadline to get on the ballot is March 22.