Iowa sheriffs want to see fees raised to cover costs of serving civil papers

DES MOINES - Iowa property taxpayers are getting stuck with the bill for sheriffs' departments to serve civil papers, a House panel was told Tuesday.

Johnson County Sheriff's Office Capt. Bill Deatsch told lawmakers the difference between the fees the department receives and the cost of operating Johnson County's six-person civil division is around $300,000 a year.

'It's not coming close to covering the costs, so property taxpayers are making up the difference,” Susan Cameron, a lobbyist for the Iowa State Sheriffs' and Deputies' Association told a House Ways and Means subcommittee.

The fees, which are set by state law, are paid by whoever is bringing the action, but when the fees don't cover the cost, taxpayers have to make up the difference.

The association is asking the House to approve Senate File 503, which was approved unanimously by the Senate last year, to call for a study of the costs of serving civil papers in six urban counties and six rural counties. The results would be submitted to the Legislature by December. The bill calls for the results of a similar study to be submitted on a regular basis and the Legislature to consider adjusting fees in a non-election year.

The Legislature has not adjusted the fees in at least 14 years, according to Cameron.

Deatsch estimated that it probably takes a deputy 30 minutes to serve a simple small claims notice - if everything goes well.

'Often these people we're trying to serve aren't that easy to find,” he said. 'It could take multiple trips,” which increases the department's costs.

Sheriff's sales and evictions, for example, are very labor intensive, he said.

Rep. Quentin Stanerson, R-Center Point, called the bill a 'good start. If the data shows it's needed, we can adjust (the fees).”

SF 503 now goes to the full Ways and Means Committee.