(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds will be sworn in for another term on Friday, January 13th — but the other five statewide elected officials have started their terms. The new terms for Secretary of State Paul Pate and State Auditor Rob Sand started on Sunday, January 1st. Newly elected State Treasurer Roby (ROB-ee, like “Robbie”) Smith took office Sunday as well. January 2nd was the starting date for Mike Naig’s second full term as secretary of agriculture.

Newly-elected Attorney General Brenna Bird who started her term Monday, too. That’s because the terms for both of those offices are to start on January 1st — unless January 1st falls on a Sunday. Terms for these five statewide elected officials technically start when they sign an official oath. None of these officials have announced they’ll participate in a public ceremony to mark the start of their terms in office.

(BBB Newswire) – The holiday expenses may be looming on your credit card bill, or perhaps the bank balance is a little lighter from the extra gifts exchanged with family and friends. If this is the year to reduce your debt and bump up the savings account, it’s not a bad idea to revisit prior financial goals. The Better Business Bureau says the post-pandemic continues to affect many households. People are reassessing retirement timelines, considering where and how they live, and assessing future personal goals in the face of the new variants. Several federal financial programs have come to an end, while employment opportunities have varied from one sector to another. As consumers look ahead to the new year, having stable financial footing may become a necessary goal to meet day-to-day needs.

When thinking about current finances and sticking to a New Year’s Resolution, consider these tips from BBB:

• Inventory your credit cards. Credit cards are known to have high-interest rates, and this can waste a lot of money over time. Reach out to the credit card company to see if a balance transfer offer can be used to switch to a card with a lower rate or ask if the interest rate can be lowered. Research the financial institution where the credit card is held on orgfirst. Read the terms and contract very carefully – there may be big penalties if a payment is missed. If you have multiple cards, decide which debt-paying strategy is best for you. Some experts recommend paying off cards with the highest interest rates first. Others recommend paying off cards with the smallest balances first. Additionally, try sending in payments throughout the month. Put the $5 that would have been spent on a morning coffee towards debt instead.

• Avoid wasting money on unethical businesses or scams. When making a purchase or choosing a business, check with BBB. Making careful decisions now can save time, money, and headaches later. Research all companies at org, and check BBB Scam Trackerregularly to see what scams are happening in your area.

• Take advantage of free tools. There are many online tools that can help manage and reduce debt.

• Start budgeting. Creating a written budget and tracking spending is one of the best ways to save money and stop spending more than what is earned. First, figure out how much debt you have; you need an accurate picture before you can figure out your budget. Note the difference between fixed expenses, needs, and wants. If you have debt, include repayment goals in your budget. If possible, factor in retirement and emergency savings. Save money by giving up morning coffee – and cooking at home instead of getting takeout. Factor in any alternate income that you can think of, like selling unused items or part-time work in the gig economy.

When possible, shop and use BBB Accredited Businesses that follow BBB’s Standards for Trust.

For more information:

• BBB’s New year’s guide
• BBB’s Money HQ

ABOUT BBB: BBB is a nonprofit, business-supported organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. BBB services to consumers are free. BBB provides objective advice, BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.3 million companies, 11,000 charity reviews, dispute resolution services, alerts and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Visit BBB.org for more information.

ATLANTIC, IOWA – Cass County Public Health is offering a free program called Disaster PrepWise that guides older adults through the steps of creating a disaster plan to handle any type of emergency. This program is offered at no cost to older adults in the area. Victoria Means, Public Health Service Coordinator, says “Preparing for an emergency can seem overwhelming, and most people aren’t even sure where to begin. We work one-to-one with adults and couples to talk through different scenarios and potential problems, and then we’ll work together to create a personalized plan on how to navigate the emergency if it should arise.”

Developed by researchers at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, Disaster PrepWise consists of five modules and two additional sections on special topics. Participants will develop a personalized disaster management plan that they can share with their family, friends, and neighbors. Means says “We’ll start with a personal and household assessment, which means we’ll talk with you about what’s unique to you both in terms of risks and assets. From there, we work on developing emergency information, important documents, supply kits, and more.”

Additionally, part of the planning assistance is making sure individuals are signed up to receive Alert Iowa messages. Alert Iowa is a communication tool used to inform the public about inclement weather, public safety events, or other emergencies.

The planning sessions will take place at Cass County Public Health, 1408 East 10th St., Atlantic, Iowa, unless otherwise arranged. While the planning is typically geared towards individuals or couples, small groups can also be accommodated. Please call Victoria Means at (712) 243-7443 with questions or to schedule a disaster planning session.

(Radio Iowa) – The four Iowans elected to serve in the U-S House for the next two years must await the election of a House speaker today (Tuesday) before they can be sworn into office. All four have said they back California Congressman Kevin McCarthy for House Speaker, but he may not have enough G-O-P support to win the job. Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of LeClaire alluded to the potential stalemate in a video statement last (Monday) night.

“Back in our nation’s capital where I’m hoping to be sworn in tomorrow on January 3rd,” Miller-Meeks said. “…Tomorrow should be interesting, but hoping that we have a very uneventful day.”

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion and Congressman-elect Zach Nunn of Bondurant have praised McCarthy for his role in getting fellow Republicans elected to a majority of seats in the U.S. House. A spokesperson for Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull says Feenstra also supports McCarthy for speaker.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors held their annual organizational meeting today (Tuesday), and voted to retain Steve Baier as Board Chair for 2023 and Mark O’Brien as Vice-Chair. They also voted to hold their regular weekly meetings on Tuesday’s at 9-a.m. They removed a clause in their schedule, which had stated they would meet on the last business day of the month, instead of Tuesday. Therefore their meetings will take place every Tuesday, unless otherwise necessary to meet on another day of the week.

The meeting on Jan. 3rd was the first official session for Board Member Wendy Richter, who was elected in the November General Election, when she ran unopposed.  The Board voted to set mileage reimbursement for County Employee Business travel at 50-cents per mile, with the exception of the Sheriff’s Civil Processor, which was set at the Federal rate of 65.5-cents per miles.

The Medical Examiner’s fee, was set in accordance with the Code of Iowa, at the current rate. The official county newspapers were retained the same as last year. The Board tabled action, for the second week in a row, on approving a five-year lease with the Cambridge Law Firm, for the upper story of the County-owned building at 707 Poplar Street. The decision to table was made because Supervisors O’Brien and Pettinger want to speak with the law firm’s owners or representatives…something they have not yet had a chance to do, because of the holidays.

The lower half of the building houses the Cass County Communications Center.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday) held their annual organizational meeting, with the election of officers. The Board voted to appoint Mike Olson as Board Chair, and Charla Schmid as Vice-Chair, for 2023. They also moved to appoint board members and alternates to numerous committees or boards. In other business, they voted to keep the schedule for their regular Board meetings the same in 2023 and in the past year, that being at 8:30-a.m. on Tuesday’s.

The Board also acted to approved the Montgomery County Employee’s Holiday Schedule for 2023, and designated the three, Official County Newspapers, which are unchanged from the past year.

The Board then adjourned the Organizational Meeting and opened their regular session, at 8:45-a.m. During the meeting, they acted on administrative resolutions. Elected officials administered the Oath of Office to their respective office deputies and assistants, and the Board approved a Hungry Canyons Alliance annual membership fee of $5,000. They’re next regular session will take place 8:30-a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023.