LEE COUNTY - Pen City Current made the decision this election cycle to run a digital-based forum with questions submitted to each candidate for Lee County Supervisor. The questions were emailed to each candidate at the same time around taxes, economic development, budgets, and zoning, all issues that have been at the forefront of recent activity on the board, were presented to all candidates.
Tim Wondra, the incumbent in District 2 is being challenged by Tom Schulz in the Republican primary, while in District 3, Sam Wilson and Chris Brown are vying on the Republican ticket for Chuck Holmes' seat. Holmes is not seeking re-election.
We have responses from all but Sam Wilson. Repeated attempts to reach Wilson by phone and email went unreturned.
No. 1 – Please list your number one priority for the county from a board seat. Why is it your top priority and what are your plans of action regarding this issue?
CHRIS BROWN: Spending. Inflation will continue, and unfortunately, we can’t control it. We need to find ways to be more efficient, by directly meeting with department heads to trim budgets. We may need to re-prioritize how and where we are spending money.
TOM SCHULZ: Fiscal responsibility, making sure we maximize everything to the benefit of the taxpayer while delivering the necessary services. This is multi pronged. We analyze and adjust budgets, spending, and purchasing procedures. I am positive I have saved the county well over 6 figures in this process alone. We continue to work with the private sector and other agencies to promote growth, which does not mean only factories, but also small business. We continue to find new ways to provide child care and, I think something that is very important, we work with others to break the cycle of generational poverty.
TIM WONDRA: While lowering property taxes is the easy political answer, my priority would be to develop a countywide Comprehensive Plan that provides a clear vision for Lee County’s future. That plan would establish clear five- and ten-year goals focused on growth, infrastructure, economic development, and reversing the population decline. Just as importantly, it would reflect input from communities across the county so that residents have a voice in shaping our direction and priorities. A strong Comprehensive Plan would also give the Board of Supervisors a roadmap for making responsible decisions about county resources and projects. Instead of reacting to short-term pressures year after year, it would create a more stable, disciplined budgeting process built around long-term planning and accountability. Lee County needs fewer short-term fixes — it needs a clear strategy for sustainable growth and long-term success.
No. 2 – A big contention this budget cycle has been pay increases for supervisors from $29,000 to $40,000. Is this forward thinking or wasteful spending, and why?
CHRIS BROWN: People need to be paid for their time, but they also need to be worth the pay. It’s a challenge to make such large increases for anyone, let alone supervisors, especially when we have so many other issues with our budget.
TOM SCHULZ: As I have stated, I think that public service, while maybe a sacrifice, should not be limited to the self-employed, retired or independently wealthy. This salary would at least make it workable for anybody that is qualified and elected to serve. You could not hold any normal 40 hour job and perform this duty. To do it right, you had better be willing to put in 30 to 40 hours per week. This amount is also commensurate with other similar counties.
TIM WONDRA: Accountability is one of my core values, and I believe elected officials should be transparent about the decisions they make. I did initially vote in favor of the increase in Supervisors’ pay. However, later in the budgeting process, Supervisors Fraise, Holmes, and I attempted to reduce the raise, but by that point, state statutes limited our ability to make changes. During next year’s budget process, reducing Supervisor pay will be one of the first cuts I propose. I will also push for restoring the Compensation Board, whose role is to independently review and recommend salaries for county elected officials and department heads. That process provides greater transparency, accountability, and public trust. Public office is about service to the community, not personal gain. Serving as a Supervisor is a responsibility I take seriously, and I am committed to doing my part to serve the people of this county responsibly and respectfully.
No 3 – As state legislature action is moving more and more toward consolidation, are counties better served holding on to as much autonomy as possible, or looking at collaboration to help share costs while holding services, and why? In your answer please consider internal and external consolidation efforts (i.e. shared public services with other counties, or shared law enforcement within the county)
CHRIS BROWN: Efficiencies are one area we can reduce spending. Yes, I believe consolidation and shared services could help save taxpayer money and still provide convenient services. I would like to see some improvements within the ambulance service. We could investigate consolidating with fire departments, for example.
TOM SCHULZ: We should explore these possibilities, especially when it comes to future facilities and, possibly, some equipment. I think there are a lot of current laws at the state and maybe federal level that will make some of this difficult. State government does not treat county and city government the same. I also do not think that communities incorporated just to lose their autonomy. This process will not be easy but should be explored if we can do it to benefit the taxpayer. I think we all saw how popular this idea was with schools in the county.
TIM WONDRA: Collaboration with neighboring counties and cities is something we should continue to explore. The state is strongly pushing regional sharing of services, and I believe it is far better for local communities to develop those partnerships vs being forced in a way that may not serve the best interests of Lee County residents. At the same time, we must be realistic about the challenges that come with shared services, especially in areas like law enforcement. When you ask one agency to cover a much larger area, response times can increase and non-essential services may decline. For example, if the sheriff’s office were responsible not only for the county, but also for communities like West Point, Donnellson, and Montrose, a deputy responding to a serious incident in West Point could require immediate backup. If the nearest available deputies were near Montrose or Argyle, backup could be 20 minutes away — far too long in an emergency. By comparison, when local police departments remain in place, officers who need assistance can often rely on sheriff’s deputies who are only minutes away. That kind of layered, local coverage can make a critical difference for both officer safety and public safety. Regional cooperation can provide benefits, but it must be approached carefully and thoughtfully to ensure that citizens do not lose the level of service and protection they expect and deserve.
No. 4 – LCEDG likes to say we are facing stiff headwinds in the way of population retention. What are your thoughts on the shrinking population base and what the county can do to reverse that trend from a supervisor’s seat?
CHRIS BROWN: Technology continues to make it easier to work and communicate from almost anywhere. We need to continue encouraging strong youth and community outreach programs. When young people are involved and proud of their communities, they tend to stay or come back. As a supervisor, one way I can directly create attraction is to make it more affordable to live, work, and build here by lowering taxes.
TOM SCHULZ: I think I covered a lot of this on question 1. We need to continue to work to make our community someplace people want to live and see that they can have a job when they do. I think there have been positive moves on some of these fronts, but there is plenty more work to be done.
TIM WONDRA: We need to try to slow and reverse the population decline. To do that, we need to attack the problem from different angles. 1) Continue to lower property taxes and make it more affordable to live here. 2) Support and grow the work LCEDG is doing with middle schoolers to show them all the different job opportunities that are right here. So, when they graduate, the students are more likely to stay here and fill these good-paying jobs. 3) Support and grow quality of life projects, like the county conservation area, walking trails, and camping areas. 4) With the growth of remote or work-from-home jobs, we need to target those individuals to move here for our good schools, safe communities, and lower cost of living vs the big cities.
No. 5 – Property taxes have always been a hot-button issue in the state and Lee County. The Lee County Farm Bureau is at the forefront of public pressure to reduce that levy. With costs for materials and services and payroll constantly on the increase, how does a local government continue to fund increases while trying to satisfy public outcries for reduced tax burdens?
CHRIS BROWN: We may need to consider changing some of our spending priorities. We could explore options to keep our equipment longer while still minimizing risk or exposure. It would be a goal to bring our tax levy in line with our state ranking.
TOM SCHULZ: Finding ways to save money and lower taxes has always been a high priority. There will come a time in the near future where the choice of lowering services will become a real possibility. That is also why we must continue to explore other revenue streams, efficiency in operations, maybe consolidation of some services and economic growth in our community. One thing we do not do is use a new comprehensive plan as a mechanism to create an entire new county department and invite land use lawsuits. Comprehensive plans can be a double edge sword and we need to proceed with great caution if we go that direction.
TIM WONDRA: We need to diversify the county’s revenue sources, so the financial burden does not continue to fall primarily on property owners. While lowering taxes is important, we also must be realistic about how we fund essential county and city services. I was initially opposed to speed cameras, but they did generate significant revenue, much of it from out-of-state drivers. I still question whether they delivered the safety benefits supporters promised, but the financial impact was real. Looking ahead, I believe we should consider options such as a local consumption tax to help distribute costs more fairly. Right now, property owners are carrying an unfair share of the responsibility for funding local government services. A consumption-based tax would spread that responsibility more evenly among residents, visitors, and others who utilize local infrastructure and services. Any long-term financial solution must balance fiscal responsibility with fairness, while ensuring that local governments can continue to provide the services our communities rely on.
No. 6 – Lee County has passed an ordinance regarding energy production projects in the county. Is this sufficient to keep development energized while maintaining the culture and appeal of Lee County, or does more need to be done with regulations to include eminent domain?
CHRIS BROWN: I love our quiet little corner of Iowa and want to protect our values and traditions. Property owners' rights must be protected and eminent domain not used for private projects.
TOM SCHULZ: It is at least a good baseline, drawing a balance between development and property rights. I don’t know how loudly and how often I have to shout this, eminent domain regulations are made and regulated by the state, not the county. I have made multiple trips to Des Moines to lobby on changes in this regard to protect individual property owners.
TIM WONDRA: Most large manufacturing development projects have stopped or stalled due to the lack of natural gas in the area and the high cost of electricity here. The natural gas lines that are in the area are at max capacity. The manufacturers use natural gas to power their machines and in heating processes. I think we need to modify our current ordinances to stipulate that a certain percentage of the power they (wind and solar projects) generate must stay here and be used to lower our energy rates. Also, I would like to tax any energy that is produced here and exported outside our area. Another way to reduce the tax burden on residents.
No. 7 – What is your take on the county holding a reserve fund? The state now allows a 35% cap of general fund expenditures but Lee County is considering a $2.5 million cap which is substantially short of the 35% cap. What are your thoughts on the current county reserve apparatus and what, if any, changes would you recommend?
CHRIS BROWN: We seem to have a very large carry-over every year, in all our accounts, not just the reserve fund. Much of the carryover in the basic, supplemental, and rural is unassigned. This would put us close to the 35% already. The county should not be a savings account for the taxpayer.
TOM SCHULZ: A reserve is a good idea. I saw first hand what happens when the county works to address changing circumstances without one. They go bankrupt without even knowing it or having a plan to deal with it. I am still shaking my head over that lack of responsibility and communication. I think, considering our current tax and budget system, that number should be no more than 1.5 million and maybe 1 million. It should not be a buffer to hold to pay future budget deficits created by normal budgetary spending, This would be both unsustainable and unwise. It should be used to take care of true emergencies not just make purchases that you don’t want to give the scrutiny of the entire budget process.
TIM WONDRA: A $2.5 million reserve is enough to handle most unforeseen emergencies and provides a cushion if there is a sudden decrease in revenue without stockpiling taxpayer funds. A small reserve is essential to help eliminate sudden jumps in tax rates to property taxpayers like we experienced 4 years ago.
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