Johnson County supervisor criticizes communication center’s finances

Johnson County Supervisor Rod Sullivan on Monday blasted what he called the “egregious” mismanagement of the Johnson County joint communications center, after the organization's leadership proposed a tax hike and 28 percent budget increase.

Other members of the Board of Supervisors also raised concerns, and the panel will meet Wednesday with the seven-member policy board that oversees the center.

The center, set to open this summer, will serve all police, firefighters and emergency responders in Johnson County.

In a lengthy e-mail Monday afternoon, Sullivan said the organization already has a bloated budget and too many administrative positions. It keeps too much money in reserve and should be run by Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek or the Iowa City Police Department, he said.

Sullivan said most of the administrative staff for the yet-to-open communications center is unnecessary, and that the building is too expensive. He lambasted the center's board and staff for not knowing how much money they have in reserve or what they will use it for.

“The finances of the JECC are completely out of control. And there is nothing the Board of Supervisors can do to stop it,” Sullivan wrote. “This whole situation is a shame. A very good initiative has spun out of control.”

North Liberty Mayor Tom Salm, a member of the center's policy board, said he believes the budget proposal is appropriate and noted that it passed by a 6-1 vote, with Pulkrabek voting “no.”

“I guess I'm a bit puzzled,” he said of the opposition.

Part of it appears to be over on the current tax levy that goes to the center. The policy board thought it was 77 cents per $1,000 of taxable value, Salm said, and proposed a levy of 75 cents for next fiscal year. But the county says the levy is actually 68 cents.

Salm said he does not know where the discrepancy came from.

The Gazette's Gregg Hennigan contributed to this report.