UC board analyzes assessor salary

With a new assessor taking on the role for Union County, salaries became a difficult issue. The Union County Conference Board met on Thursday, Feb. 27 to discuss the assessor’s budget for the next fiscal year.

The meeting began with a public hearing. No comments from the public were presented.

The salary for Union County Assessor Jessica Hagen has been budgeted for $76,742 in fiscal year 2026. For the south-central district of Iowa, the average assessor’s salary is around $84,454 in 2025. The proposed salary would rank 93rd in the state for county assessors.

Hagen joined Union County as assessor in February after the previous assessor, Mindy Schaefer, resigned in December. The salary was noted as an early number for a new assessor, with Supervisor Dennis Hopkins explaining how the salary should rise to match the average following more experience.

Brad James, Creston Community School District’s representative to the conference board, said the number was a little high for him personally, but noted how important the role is to the county.

“You can never pay a good person enough; you can always pay the wrong person too much,” James said. “Let’s get it proved to us that she’s the right person for us and the community, and then we’ll go from there. Give her the benefit of the doubt is where I’m at today.”

Comparison between the county assessor and auditor’s salaries was noted, but it was also noted the Union County Auditor, Sandy Hysell, has been working far longer at 35 years to Hagen’s recent start as assessor. Hysell praised Hagen’s dedication to the new position and was fine with the salary as is.

The board made a motion that for fiscal year 2026, the assessor’s salary is to be contingent on elected official’s salaries. The intention was to make sure the salary isn’t higher than the salaries of elected officials which haven’t been approved yet.

Assistant Assessor Joni Cook was requested by Hagen to have a salary raised to $65,230. The new number was created to align the position with other public entities, such as the deputy auditor, treasurer and recorder’s offices. The new salary was approved.

The position of clerk/deputy assessor is open, with Hagen requesting a maximum salary of $57,000 for whoever will fill the position. Hagen did not expect to use the maximum salary, especially if a new clerk had no experience. Hopkins described the extra cap as “wiggle room” in case the position was filled by someone with previous experience. In previous meetings, Hagen has said the search for a clerk or deputy has been delayed as she acclimates to the new work environment.

The board approved the budget for fiscal year 2026. Other items, such as replacing computers nearing the end of their life cycle and reducing mileage on company vehicles were discussed.