Cerro Gordo supervisors approve Fiscal Year 2026 budget, pay raises for elected officials
MASON CITY — The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors earlier today approved the county’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget that begins on July 1st.
The county’s levy rates are dropping in the proposed budget, with the countywide rate dropping from $5.34 ½ per $1000 taxable valuation to $5.33 ½ . The rural rate is dropping from about $3.30 down to $3.26 ½ . The county with some increased valuations will be taking in more tax dollars, about $100,000 on the rural side and the countywide levy about $140,000.
County budget director Heather Mathre says about 65% of the county’s budget deals with public safety, public health and roads. “29% of all expenditures will be in our public safety and legal services, that is the sheriff’s department, administrative, jail, and also our attorney’s department. The next largest piece of the pie would be roads and transportation, 20%. Then after that, physical health and social services, which a large majority of that would be our public health department.”
Mathre says the county’s portion of your tax bill is just over 20%. “Taxes collected in Cerro Gordo County, which authority takes what percent — so you’re going to see the blue section is the schools, they take just shy of 39%, cities is the red section, 32%, and the county is the green section, almost 22%.”
You can see a copy of the budget presentation by clicking here
== The supervisors also approved the salary recommendations for elected officials for the upcoming fiscal year prior to approving the budget. The County Sheriff’s salary will increase by 5% to come in line with the requirements of the “Back the Blue” law passed by the legislature a few years ago. The salaries for County Attorney, County Auditor, County Recorder, County Treasurer, and the three supervisors will increase by 2.75% It is the first time since 2016 that the supervisors have approved a raise in their salary.
