County Supervisors are required by law to set their budgets at this time of year — which is causing a lot of uncertainty as the legislature continues working on its budget. Clay County Board of Supervisors chair, Burlin Mathews, says they can set their budget, but it may not mean much.
"As long as we have the legislature in Iowa still in session, this thing is just set in just firming jello," Mathews says of the budget. Mathews says they try to stay on top of what’s happening in Des Moines, but that’s hard to do. "Who knows what’s coming down the tubes yet," he says of the legislature.
Mathews says what they do know so far hasn’t been good for the county or homeowners. Mathews says they are clueless at this point as to what will happen, but do know they’ve already lost thousands of dollars. Mathews says they don’t know what may come up yet from the legislature as there are likely to be lots of surprises.
"I’ve always thought surprises are nice at Christmas and birthdays, but not in the middle of a budget season," Mathews says. mathews says Clay county will go ahead with its budget hearing and then have to adjust to any changes made by the state.