The Rolling Hills Community Services Region voted last week to give away nearly $800,000 in taxpayer-funded properties in Sac City and Sioux City as the multi-county organization prepares for dissolution at the end of the fiscal year. According to Carroll County District 3 Supervisor Gene Meiners, who sits on the Rolling Hills Board of Directors, the board approved the “donation” despite protests from the Carroll County Board of Supervisors.
Carroll County was a charter member of the Rolling Hills Community Services Region and provided some of the funding that the organization used to purchase a Sac City property, currently assessed at $69,750, and a Sioux City property valued at $776,300. Rolling Hills’ initial investment, which was provided in part by contributions from the original seven charter counties, was approximately $360,000. Meiners says he is frustrated by the vote, as those properties were purchased with taxpayer dollars and should return to the original counties.
District 5 Supervisor Mark Beardmore says he is also displeased with the board’s decision and has requested further review from the State Auditor’s Office and Iowans for Tax Relief (ITR).
Barring any action from those agencies, the deed transfers will be effective on Jan. 1, 2025. The move comes as the Rolling Hills Community Services Region is set to dissolve on June 30, 2025, when the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) takes over management of mental health services throughout the state. Sac, Calhoun, and Crawford Counties are also members of the Rolling Hills Community Services Region.
