Meeting Public Comments

Rick Phillips []

I encourage the committee to support HF117 and its passage. There seems to be a big push to move the power of controlling budgets from county supervisors to a commission overseeing the Emergency Management Agency (HF126). I think this would be a mistake since elected supervisors traditionally control the local purse strings and for the most part have done exceptionally well! Adversely, an unelected EMA commissioner would not have the concerns of property owners at heart, nor would it have the oversight needed that the people are accustomed to. A commissioner would only have his business at heart and what works best for it, lacking financial oversight the people rely on vested in their Board of Supervisors. The people need the stability of their Board of Supervisors at a time of economic uncertainty such as now and not change to an unknown wild card. What responsibilities pertaining to emergency services given to the EMA is one thing but let the county Board of Supervisors control the purse and approve any special levies on the county. I can foresee no problem with these checks and balances at the local levels of government. It will neither harm the quality of emergency services nor fiscal responsibility. Please support and pass HF117 and reject HF126.

Doug Reed []

I would also like to encourage the committee to not implement oversight that would be a wildcard over funding the future of safety and economic security regarding major emergency and disasters. THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS REJECT HF117. HF 117 is contrary to law, contrary to existing authorities, and couched in gross misperceptions, as noted in other public comments and those of some opposing lobbyists. Facts should be valued more than feelings on this matter. 1. There's no push to move the power of controlling budgets from county supervisors. Supervisors are not given this authority under Iowa law related to emergency management. 2. Commission members are elected officials, assembled under Iowa law to care for emergency management on a countywide basis without regard to any single jurisdictions political or financial agendas. 3. If the general assembly were to pass HF 117, going against the intent and structure of 29C, it would jeopardize emergency management agencies staffing and programmatic priorities, putting Iowans at risk. Who would want to cut disaster preparedness and response funding so more money could be diverted to making a bike trail or getting one more truckload of gravel? If HF 117 passes, it will happen. 4. HF 117 isn't about efficiency or transparency or even prudency; its about control. Primarily a false perceived control that a board can make a final, unilateral decision, contrary to the decision of ALL chief elected officials in a geographic county regarding emergency management funding. That theory is contrary to current law, its intent, and current AG Opinion on the matter. 5. Boards used to have a final decision authority under 29C and in years past, everyone agreed that model was an abject failure and limited commissions from implementing their statutory requirements which led to a change of the code to make the commission the fiscal authority. 6. HF 126 finally corrects the issue and leaves no more question on the intent of 29C. It IS NOT a new tax, it is an identification of an existing special levy and attributed to the correct levying body with more transparency than currently exists. HF 117, in some cases, would require a new tax being levied and would force boards of supervisors that are not at their cap of the general fund to max that out prior to using their general supplemental that can only be used for an insufficiency in general funds. I implore the committee DENY PASSAGE of HF 117 and return us to a point of known failure. Lives and property are at risk over this bad legislation. Iowa is one of the highest impacted states suffering from natural disasters. Passage of HF 117 would exacerbate our risk and ability to respond and recover, causing Iowans to suffer so a single entity can have "control".