Bremer County treasurer outlines revenue gains, plans to restore counter services by July

The Bremer County treasurer told supervisors the office has seen stronger-than-expected revenue and proposed targeted budget adjustments that would preserve service continuity while covering operational costs.

The treasurer reported collections have exceeded $300,000 in both 2024 and 2025 and described several line-item revenue adjustments: an increase in motor‑vehicle mailing fees to reflect U.S. postage rate changes, a $1,000 increase in NSF check charges, a new $25,000 convenience‑fee estimate for the FY27 budget, and an anticipated interest‑on‑investments increase after consulting other treasurers.

On services, the treasurer defended the office’s decision to close counter services on Tuesdays to focus on back‑end processing and cross‑training, saying the policy improved internal efficiency. The treasurer set a target to resume regular counter service by July 1, contingent on a new hire and completion of driver‑license‑issuance training for three staffers. The treasurer cautioned that reopening could reduce some electronic or regional fees and that increased walk‑in traffic could lengthen in‑office wait times.

Board members acknowledged the treasurer’s data‑driven approach and encouraged coordination with other county treasurers and the finance office to ensure estimates used for budgeting are conservative yet realistic.