What Does a County Supervisor Do?

The county board is the executive branch of county government.  Supervisors serve as the policy makers for the county and administer the various county programs. Their duties include reviewing budget requests, appropriating funds, establishing county tax levies, enacting ordinances, filling employee vacancies, the appointment of citizens to various county boards and commissions, and hearing reports from county officers. The board is also responsible for overseeing economic development in the county. The board of supervisors’ responsibilities are defined in Iowa Code chapter 331.

One principal duty of the board of supervisors is setting the tax levies, which along with your taxable property value determines your county property taxes. The board starts the process in the early each year by first reviewing the budget requests from each department and authorized agencies. Once the budget has been approved, and the taxable values of the properties within the county along with the state roll back values are known, the board sets the tax levies required to balance the budget.

Scott County’s board consists of 5 elected members; the supervisor positions are classified as part-time and at large. Scott County is one of a few counties in Iowa to have a full-time county administrator who is responsible for the day-to-day management of the county services and personnel. Our Committee of the Whole (COW) meetings are held Tuesday mornings at 8:30 am every other week, and is when department requests, policy changes, ordinances, etc. are discussed.   Our board meetings are on the following Thursday at 5 pm and when the Board votes on those items discussed during the COW meeting. Opportunities for residents to voice their opinions and/or concerns regarding governance of the county is provided at both meetings.    These meetings are typically held in the first-floor boardroom of the Administration Center at 600 west 4th Street, Davenport, Iowa. You may also join us online at: 

https://scottcountyiowa.webex.com/scottcountyiowa/j.php?MTID=mfdee6200a632163f9640a22e75fb9b8a