Iowa StateAssociationof Counties

Iowa State Association of Counties501 SW 7th St., Ste. QDes Moines, IA 50309-4540(515) 244-7181 Fax: (515) 244-6397Web Site: www.iowacounties.org

Office Hours:Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm

ISAC Member Organizations

ISAC is comprised of several statewide associationscalled affiliates. For example, all the county treasurersin the state have their own association which is calledthe Iowa State Treasurers Association, Inc., and arecited as one of ISAC’s affiliates. In total, there are 15of these associations that are affiliated with ISAC.

• Iowa State Association of Assessors

• Iowa County Attorneys’ Association, Inc.

• Iowa State Association of County Auditors

• Iowa County Community Services Association

• County Conservation Directors Association ofIowa

• Iowa Emergency Management Directors Assn.

• Iowa County Engineers Association

• Iowa Environmental Health Specialists

• Iowa Counties Information Technology Organization

• County Public Health Nurses Association

• Iowa County Recorders Association

• Iowa State Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association

• Iowa State Association of County Supervisors

• Iowa State County Treasurers’ Association, Inc.

• County Zoning Officials

Each of these associations elects it own officers. Somehave as few as three officers, while some have as manyas 10. Each association decides how its board repre-sentative is chosen for the ISAC Board of Directors.The supervisors are allowed to seat three memberson the ISAC Board due to their greater number through-out the state. After the overall ISAC Board is chosen,the Board elects its own executive board. The term ofall board members is one year, but there is no restric-tion against consecutive terms. Any county official inthe state who is a director of the National Associationof Counties (NACo) automatically becomes a memberof the ISAC Board.

ISAC’s Organizational Structure

ISAC Alumni Association: This association is com-prised of approximately 50 members that have re-tired from a county position but want to remain incontact with ISAC and their friends in county gov-ernment. Anyone who is a former elected or ap-pointed county employee is eligible to join. Approvedby the ISAC Board of Directors, the organizationmeets regularly to discuss current county govern-ment issues and offer solutions to county officials.The organization provides constructive discussionsat meetings, serves on panels in an advisory capac-ity and offers the benefit of wisdom and experienceto current county officials.

ISAC Associate Members: This association is com-prised of professional organizations wanting to pro-vide services to county officials. Associate mem-bers pay annual dues in order to have advertisingdiscounts and listings in ISAC publications, registra-tions to ISAC schools and a service description onthe ISAC website. Associate members contribute toISAC in many ways. The dues these organizationspay helps defray the costs of ISAC activities, therebylowering the registration costs for workshops, theannual conferences and other training for county of-ficials.

LobbyingSeven steering committees meet each year to for-mulate policy direction for ISAC through the use ofpolicy statements and legislative objectives. Steer-ing committee members are county officials appointedby their affiliate presidents.

The steering committees are:• County Administration and Organization• Environment and Public Health• Human Services• Land Use and Rural Affairs• Public Safety• Taxation and Finance• Transportation

ISAC staff then lobbies on the ISAC priorities, reactsto legislation that directly affects county governmentand researches questions for legislators and countyofficials regarding potential and past legislation.

When the General Assembly is not in session, ISAC’slegislative staff attend legislative interim study com-mittee meetings, various state agency meetings andhearings. Most importantly, in the summer they travelto the six ISAC districts and explain in person theimpact of bills passed in the previous session.

The Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) is aprivate, nonprofit corporation. The organization wasestablished by law on June 30, 1971 with the sign-ing of Senate File 37. ISAC members are electedand appointed county officials from all 99 counties.The main purpose of ISAC is to secure and maintaincooperation among the counties and county officials,promote comprehensive study of local problems andfind ways of solving them, provide methods of inter-change of ideas among various county officials, andpromote and work for the enactment of legislationthat is most beneficial to the citizens of Iowa. Coun-ties pay voluntary dues to belong to ISAC. In return,ISAC provides a number of services to member coun-ties, such as training, benefit programs, education,technical assistance and lobbying.

TrainingNew County Officials School, held every other yearin January, is offered to familiarize new office hold-ers with their county duties and current issues im-portant to their office. A manual filled with informa-tion on county government is given to county offi-cials in attendance. In off years a variety of refresherclasses are offered through ISAC University. Otherinformation seminars are presented throughout theyear as needed.

Benefits ProgramsSeveral member programs are offered through ISAC.ISAC endorses IPAIT, an investment pool for publicagencies; Nationwide Retirement Solutions, throughpartnership with the National Association of Coun-ties (NACo); IMWCA, workers’ compensation cov-erage; and ICAP, self-insurance program. ISAC alsohas a self-funded group health insurance programcurrently used by over 25 counties. Counties par-ticipating in the health insurance program have ac-cess to an Employee Assistance Program.

Member Benefit Programs

ISAC’s Vision StatementTo be the principal, authoritative source of repre-sentation, information and services for and aboutcounty government in Iowa.

ISAC’s Mission StatementTo promote effective and responsible county gov-ernment for the people of Iowa.

Background On ISAC EducationConferences and workshops sponsored by ISAC areheld throughout the year. Two ISAC schools (one inMarch and one in November) are offered for net-working, education and affiliate meetings. Six dis-trict workshops in June are open to county officialsseeking further understanding of the bills passed dur-ing the previous session that directly impacted countygovernment. Special workshops and seminars areoffered throughout the year on timely issues affect-ing county officials. Publications are the main sourceof information sharing for ISAC with material suchas The Iowa County magazine (published monthly),Legislative Newsletters (published weekly during theGeneral Session), Legislative Bill Summaries (com-pleted after the General Session each year), CountyDirectory (published every other year) and the ISACLegislative Priorities (created at the beginning of ev-ery General Session).

Technical AssistanceISAC performs fiscal research and analysis, conductssurveys and prepares information as needed on top-ics such as property taxes, county salaries, mentalhealth issues and legislative issues. Two full timeattorneys are on staff to answer questions on per-sonnel issues, board meeting rules or other legalmatters. County Case Management Services(CCMS), a 28E organization, provides quality, costeffective case management programs. CCMS staffmembers provide training statewide and are avail-able to answer questions pertaining to case man-agement issues.

County Rate Information Systems (CRIS) is a 28Eentity created to establish a rate setting methodol-ogy that enables participant counties to negotiateappropriate reimbursement rates with covered MH/DD providers.

Electronic Transaction Clearinghouse (ETC) was cre-ated as a result of HIPAA. It is a 28E entity consist-ing of counties as dues-paying members. The tech-nology used by ETC gives counties, when they arein the role of payors, the ability to accept medicalclaims electronically.