IOWA CITY

The Johnson County Jail is beginning a transition that will turn control center operators into detention officers.

“We’re kind of a dinosaur,” Sheriff Brad Kunkel told the Johnson County Board of Supervisors at its April 23 work session.

The jail, Kunkel said, currently has six sergeants, three administrators, 18 deputy officers and eight control center operators. The job changes, which will happen over time, will mean the jail will have a combined 26 deputies and detention officers.

Johnson County’s change to the new system follows up a similar change made by Linn County in recent years, Kunkel said.

Detention officers will make about $14,000 more than a control center operator, on average, a salary of about $119,000.

Kunkel hopes to phase out the control center positions by the end of the year, bringing Johnson County into line with most county jails in Iowa.

FY26 Salaries

At its April 24 formal session, the Board approved 4.85% salary increases for itself and other increases of up to 7.35% for Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith. The salary increases take effect July 1.

Zimmermann Smith’s new rate will be a biweekly salary of $8,255.33, per a recommendation from the county’s Compensation Board.

Sheriff Brad Kunkel’s new biweekly salary will be $8,001.11, an increase of 6.35%. The biweekly salaries for county auditor Julie Persons, recorder Kim Painter and treasurer Scott Finlayson will go up 4.85% to $5,527.41.

The biweekly salaries for the five county supervisors will be $3,935.94.

FY26 Budget

The Board also approved the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which includes $166.45 million in expenditures.

A public hearing was held April 17, during which Finance Director Dana Aschenbrenner provided highlights of the budget.

The budget includes $121.4 million in expected revenues.

Proposed spending includes $34.2 million in capital expenditures, $70.9 million in county staffing and salaries, and $3.4 million for repairs at the county jail and sheriff’s offices.

More than $13 million in road work includes $6.5 million for a resurfacing project on 540th Street SW, stretching from Highway 1 north of Kalona to Hillcrest Academy. The project is expected to begin in summer or early fall.

The rural tax levy is remaining at $3.61169 per $1,000 of valuation, but the countywide tax is increasing to $6.73092.

New Digs

Board meetings are moving this week to a new location on the third floor of the Health and Human Services building on South Dubuque Street in Iowa City.

Beginning with Wednesday’s work session, the Board will meet in Conference Room 301. The Board had been holding its sessions in a second floor room while a renovation of the third floor took place. Supervisor offices were in place on the third floor two months ago.

Public parking is available on the north side of the building.

Board Action

The Board approved limiting the size of a temporary county redistrict commission to three members. It is a part of the process in a procedure that will change Johnson County’s five at-large supervisor seats to five district seats.

The Board approved a resolution authorizing up to $20.84 million in loan agreements and bonds for Fiscal Year 2026.

The Board approved a $33,000 agreement with Youth Empowered to Serve (YES) for the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County.

The Board approved a $45,655 change order with Peak Construction Group for work being done on the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm’s kitchen project.

The Board approved the job description for Conservation Operations Superintendent.

The Board set a public hearing for 9 a.m. May 15 for monthly zoning and platting applications.

The Board approved sending a planned expansion of the county’s fleet center on Melrose Avenue out to bid. The awarding of the bid is expected to be in late May with completion of the expansion to be done by March 2026.

The Board issued proclamations honoring Mental Health Awareness Month and Provider Appreciation Day (May 9).

Next meeting:

The Board’s next formal session is at 9 a.m. May 1.