A government efficiency task force established by Gov. Kim Reynolds is meeting again today and may further examine the politically and culturally sensitive issue of whether Iowa needs all 99 counties.

Why it matters: Iowa's county structure is deeply rooted in the state's identity.

• Yet some have fewer than 5,000 residents, raising questions about the viability of redundant local governments and infrastructure, including 100 courthouses across the state.

Catch up quick: Reynolds issued an executive order creating Iowa DOGE Task Force in February, appointing an all-Republican committee to steer it.

• Its aim is to maximize taxpayer money, leverage emerging technology and refine workforce and job training programs.
• County consolidation was among the ideas floated in June when task force members agreed to do more research before making a final report in September.

Flashback: Ideas for county consolidation have been on some lawmakers' minds for decades, including in 2004 when former state Sen. Matt McCoy (D-DSM) introduced legislation that would have created a legislative study committee to explore it.

• The measure never advanced.

Yes, but: In February, McCoy — who is now the chairperson of the Polk County Board of Supervisors — told Axios that consolidation or increased collaboration among local governments is becoming necessary, especially given state-level efforts to cut property taxes.

Reality check: Cutting the number of counties would require a constitutional amendment, potentially presenting a major political challenge.

• A more efficient option could be "a regionalism approach," which would expand existing cost-sharing and cooperative service models among counties rather than eliminating county lines, Andrea Woodard, executive director of the Iowa State Association of Counties, tells Axios.

The big picture: While full-scale county mergers are rare, several states have pursued regional service delivery or structural consolidations to cut costs and boost efficiency.

• Connecticut eliminated county governments about 65 years ago, replacing them with regional councils of governments.
• North Carolina counties often share health departments and social service agencies.

The intrigue: Iowa has already regionalized certain services, including mental health and substance abuse systems, and consolidated some state government agencies.

What's next: The DOGE Task Force meeting will be streamed, starting at 1pm today.

DSM City Councilperson Joe Gatto filed organization papers this week to seek the Democratic nomination for Polk County supervisor, a seat that Tom Hockensmith is not seeking reelection to next year.

Why it matters: Gatto's potential move could alter the balance of power in both city and county governments, creating a seat on the council and bringing new leadership to the board after months of infighting.

Catch up quick: Gatto, a part-owner of Baratta's Italian Restaurant, has served on the council since a special election in 2014, filling a spot vacated after Brian Meyer won an Iowa House seat.

• Hockensmith announced last week that he will not seek reelection after serving more than 20 years on the board, citing ongoing division among the board as a reason for his decision.

Zoom in: Gatto's time on the council has focused on revitalizing neglected neighborhoods, attracting small business investment and upgrading infrastructure, especially along commercial corridors like Southwest 9th Street in his district.

• He's known for being direct, recently telling some of DSM's top managers that they are in the wrong positions if they recommend cutting fire department services.
• He joined Hockensmith in 2023 in leading an effort to oust the longtime director of the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

The intrigue: Hockensmith tells Axios he's not ready to endorse anyone for his seat. He wasn't aware anyone else was running for it as of yesterday morning.

What's next: The primary is June 2, 2026.

👀 Madison County Supervisors held a heated meeting yesterday and voted 2-1 to hire outside legal counsel at $300 per hour, snubbing the county attorney. (KCCI)

🍺 The owners of 515 Brewing are stepping down and are looking for someone to purchase the business. (WHO-13)

🚲 The Heart of Iowa Nature Trail connecting Slater, Huxley, Cambridge, Maxwell and Collins is complete with 21 miles of continuous trail. (Business Record)

🎤 Adam Sandler is bringing his comedy tour to Casey's Center this October. (WOI-TV)

Dotdash Meredith's rebrand to People Inc. is a nod to the complex and storied history of Time Inc., the original owner of People.

Why it matters: People's history makes it Dotdash Meredith's most popular and recognizable title, but at least in Des Moines, Meredith is one of the most recognizable legacy media names.

🔍 Zoom out: Dotdash Meredith is by far the largest company within Barry Diller's IAC portfolio, and its performance has kept its publicly traded parent from being swallowed by changes to Google Search.

• Search revenue for IAC, which are comprised mostly from Ask.com, declined 39% last quarter year-over-year, while People Inc.'s revenues increased 1%.

Flashback: Edwin Thomas Meredith originally founded Meredith in Des Moines and ran farming publications before launching Better Homes & Gardens in 1922, per the Business Record.