TOLEDO, Iowa (KCRG) – Tama County is projected to go so far over budget this year that it’s having to pull from other county agencies in order to make it through the next four months. The county is projected to be around $950,000 over budget this fiscal year, which ends at the end of June. Tuesday morning, the Tama County Board of Supervisors approved using money originally allocated for emergency services telecommunications (e911) to supplement the county’s general fund. The previous board of supervisors had agreed to give the e911 board $1.6 million. E911 only received $400,000 of that money. The e911 board agreed to not receive the remaining money and also transferred more than $900,000 to the county’s general supplemental fund. The e911 had extra funds in its account and will still end the fiscal year with a positive balance after transferring the money. The county also enacted a hiring freeze and canceled travel for employees. This money will be used to pay the county employees, including the sheriff and people working in public health. An audit earlier this year also showed problems in the county’s human resources department. An HR employee was fired on Feb. 3 following a complaint that she didn’t pay sales tax on an item she purchased for personal use. Tammy Wise was found to have saved $500 on an item after not paying sales tax. Doland said he could not comment further. The audit also showed Wise failed to comply with state and federal laws, county policies and procedures and did not perform her job duties outlined in the job description.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Carbon monoxide: it’s known as a silent killer. No smell, no color, and no way to know if it’s there without a monitor. And with people turning their heat up to beat the cold, more people are unknowingly bringing it into their homes. Carbon monoxide forms when fuel doesn’t burn completely. It can happen in appliances like gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters, or fireplaces. And with too much exposure, it can cause headaches, dizziness, vomiting, and in extreme cases, even death. Fire officials say that’s why they’ve been on high alert this week. They say the best way to stay safe is to have carbon monoxide detectors in your home. And if you’re using a fuel-burning appliance, be sure that it’s working properly and able to properly ventilate itself.
URBANDALE, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds on Tuesday appointed Lucy Gipple, a University of Northern Iowa student, to serve on the Iowa Board of Regents. The Iowa Board of Regents is made up of nine volunteers, appointed by the governor, and one of the members must be a full-time, undergraduate or graduate, student at one of Iowa’s three public universities. Gipple is an elementary education major, with a minor in social and emotional learning. She is also involved in Connecting Alumni to Students, Alpha Phi sorority, the Panhellenic Executive Team, and the 2025 orientation staff. Gipple, a New Sharon native, will officially begin serving with the Board of Regents at its Feb. 27 meeting in Urbandale.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand says the state is refusing to let him properly audit the Education Savings Accounts program, also known as school vouchers. That program allows families to use taxpayer dollars to help pay for private education. In a report released Tuesday morning, Rob Sand said the Iowa Department of Education did not provide his office with documentation showing that money under the program is being properly spent. Sand said not having proper documentation prevents his office from being able to properly audit a program that cost more than $100 million last year. That cost is expected to grow to more than $300 million. In a response from the state, the Department of Education disagreed with Sand’s finding, saying the auditor’s office requested documentation that is beyond the scope required. The department further claimed that Sand has shown an extreme bias and conflict of interest regarding the ESA program. The department argued Sand has previously campaigned against the program, and encouraged others to challenge it.
