More local control disappears in Iowa

Last week, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed legislation requiring three Iowa counties that are home to state universities to elect county supervisors by district. The counties are prohibited from electing supervisors at-large.

The same bill, Senate File 75, also requires counties with populations over 125,000 to fill a board of supervisors vacancy through a special election if more than 70 days remain in the departing supervisor’s term. That includes Linn and Johnson counties.

This is the latest bill aimed at micromanaging local government while replacing local decision making with state edicts. Over the past eight years, with Republicans controlling the Statehouse, local control has taken blow after blow.

Last year, lawmakers passed a law stopping local governments from regulating business facades, replacing local discretion with a statewide prohibition.

Also last year, Republicans pushed through a law barring local governments from adopting topsoil replacement requirements stronger than the state standard. Governments trying to control runoff and improve water quality are forced to adopt a very weak state law.

That’s just a sampling.

Lawmakers prohibited counties from setting a higher minimum wage. Republicans made fireworks legal, while leaving the decision on whether they can be used up to cities. But those local rules have done little to tame the annual July 4 th barrage.

County auditors had their power to help voters, but no longer. Auditors who don’t toe the line potentially face criminal charges. Only one satellite voting location can be designated in a county.

Schools have seen the Legislature push to ban books from school library shelves while also dictating portions of school curriculum. Local district efforts to support transgender students have been smashed by state edicts after Republicans voted to remove “gender identity” from the Civil Rights Act.

The Winneshiek County sheriff is being sued by Attorney General Brenna bird after he expressed his views on immigration detainer requests. Bird argues the sheriff broke a state law requiring law enforcement to cooperate with ICE agents.

Republicans are currently considering capping revenues collected through property taxes. Local governments may lose funding under the plan to provide services to local constituents.

Now it’s supervisor representation and special elections.

When will the crusade against local control end? It’s not likely any time soon as lawmakers continue to take action against counties which don’t adhere to the Republican agenda.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com