Board

Polk County Implements New Budget Website to Encourage Community Engagement

Published 1/13/2025 2:29:54 PM

Des Moines, IA- The Polk County Board of Supervisors has implemented new processes for their 2025 budget season to make it easier for Polk County residents to participate.

“One of the most important duties for the Board is setting our budget priorities,” said 1st District Supervisor Matt McCoy and 2025 Board Chair. “I want to make it as easy as possible for residents to be engaged and informed during our budgeting process.”

Some of the improvements that have been implemented is the creation of a one-stop shop on the Polk County Board of Supervisors’ website for easy access to all department budget agendas, presentations, and livestream links where residents and media can follow along or watch past recordings.

The Board of Supervisors will hold an evening public forum at the conclusion of all department budget presentations but prior to any formal board actions. This is designed to provide the public with an additional opportunity to share their feedback and raise any questions they have about spending priorities. The budget public forum is scheduled for Thursday, February 20 at 6pm in the Board Room 120 at the Polk County Administration Building (111 Court Ave, Des Moines).

“Because of the legislature’s 2024 property tax reform and possible further property tax changes this legislative session, cities and counties are faced with difficult budget choices, and we need to be more fiscally responsible on how we spend taxpayer dollars,” said 2nd District Supervisor Jill Altringer and 2025 Board Vice Chair. “Public input is more crucial now than ever. This new process is designed to be more transparent and more accessible to the community.”

 

The Polk County Board of Supervisors’ first budget presentation is scheduled for tomorrow morning (Tuesday, January 14th) at 10:30am or following the regularly scheduled 9:30am board meeting. Budget deliberations run through February.  

For more information please visit Polk County’s 2025 Budget website: https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/board-of-supervisors/2025-budget-information/