Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of The Whole 05-12-11 NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING AND AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY, WISCONSIN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE May 12, 2011- 9:30 A.M. County Board Room St. Croix County Government Center 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS OLD AND NEW BUSINESS: 1. Report on County Administrator Candidate Interviews 2. Vehicle Registration Fee and Other County Fees 3. 2012 Budget and Spending 4. Employee Pay Plan ADJOURN Items may be taken in different order. *Additions/Changes/Corrections • A quorum of County Board members may attend this meeting. In that event, this is also notice of a County Board meeting at which members may obtain information on subjects listed above for use at future County Board meetings. • Items for County Board approval must be submitted to the County Clerk's office by Tuesday preceding a County Board meeting. • Every effort will be made to honor requests for reasonable accommodation made by individuals with disabilities to attend this meeting. If possible, make requests a week before the meeting. Direct requests to Cindy Campbell at 715.386.4610. Page 1 of 1 5/6/2011 8:57 AM OFFICIAL MINUTES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE May 12, 2011- 9:30 A.M. County Board Room, St. Croix County Government Center Meeting called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Vice Chair Wentz. Present: 18 members; absent Karen Meyer Others Present: Charlie Carlson, department heads and members of the public Motion by Rebholz, 2nd by Sicard to approve agenda. Carried unanimously. OLD AND NEW BUSINESS: 1. Report on County Administrator Candidate Interviews. Standafer reviewed the process taken regarding the County Administrator candidates noting participants from the public were also involved in the process. Standafer indicated there are three extremely strong finalists and it is the intention of the committee, as a result of interviews on May 17th, to select a finalist. Standafer thanked Carlson for his assistance in this process. Norton-Bauman indicated the Administration Committee unanimously agreed on the three final candidates and noted Roger Larson was also a participant. Standafer indicated all candidates are employed outside of the state but have Wisconsin roots and desire to return. 2. Vehicle Registration Fee and Other County Fees. Standafer stated vehicle registration fee is a significant revenue stream for the County. Hermsen expressed concerns with the vehicle registration fee stating this County Board put an unfair tax on the citizens of St. Croix County and would like to see it repealed. Highway Commissioner Tim Ramberg explained it is a $10 registration that the state collects and keeps $.10. The fee generated $720,000 to the Highway Department levy by statute it must be spent on transportation. The fee was approved in 2007 and became effective in 2008. Rebholz stated the Highway Department has a well-established set of goals for the roads and reviewed those goals. Sather expressed the need to live within our means rather than higher taxes and borrowing. Norton-Bauman spoke in favor of the $10 tax rather than bonding to take care of the roads. Hermsen requested Supervisors consider why other counties can get by without it. 3. 2012 Budget and Spending. Carlson stated the Administration Committee expressed a desire to start budget process earlier because of the circumstances at the state-level. Pete Kling reviewed information regarding Strategic Planning Performance Management and Performance Budgeting. Discussion regarding surveying the citizens of St. Croix County regarding county government services. Carlson stated the first two matters the County Administrator should accomplish in the first two years is an effective strategic plan and fully implemented performance management plan. Finance Director Michelle Pietrick provided 2011 levy information and reviewed a list of assumptions for consideration including; no pay increases; assume Act 10 passes and employees pay 5.8% of retirement; no change in the county's contribution for health insurance; no changes in other expenses, including capital outlay - status quo from 2011; assumes the county levy for post-2005 debt increase and decrease the pre-2005 debt levy; assumes no change in Library or County Aid Bridges funding; incorporated revenue cuts based on the Governor's budget (Health and Human Services (HHS) will not be able to fully anticipate revenue cuts until later in the year and not all revenue cuts could be calculated for some departments); no changes were factored in for the Nursing Home; and no fund balance applied (try to Committee of the Whole May 12, 2011 Page 2 of 2 achieve 25% coverage based on all funds expenses, not just the General Fund expenses - estimated 2010 coverage for all funds is 19.32%). Discussion regarding reserves for all funds. Pietrick provided three levy options: "1. If net new construction equals .74% and we levy to the cap, need to reduce expenses $205,000. 2. If objective is no increase in the levy then have to cut at least $530,000 in operations. If there are changes in the library or county aid bridges this option would then result in further reductions in County operations unless willing to not utilize those items outside levy limits. 3. Could levy less and would have to further reduce expenses." Pietrick provided a final 2011 levy report by fund. Carlson asked for Committee of the Whole direction to the Administration Committee for the budget instructions. Sather indicated there are too many unknowns at this time. Norton-Bauman asked if the desire is to stay with last year's levy or increase the amount by new construction percentage or less. Discussion regarding establishing priorities and the need to review mandated services. Horne left at 11:35 a.m. 4. Employee Pay Plan. Carlson reported the goal is to bring to the County Board a pay plan that requires performance based pay, a new classification system and giving the County Administrator the authority and responsibility to make it work. Carlson reported this is a major change. Discussion regarding contracted services. Carlson indicated this should be part of the strategic plan. Standafer thanked everyone for their participation in today's meeting. Standafer indicated an inquiry was raised by Supr. Hermsen at the May County Board meeting concerning contradicting opinions of the Corporation Counsel that were provided to the Community Development Committee and the Public Protection Committee. Initially, he considered referring this matter back to the respective standing committee as provided in the board bylaws. However, after additional consideration, he decided that was impractical for several reasons: 1. the inquiry involved more than one standing committee; 2. the issue does not involve deliberation or action by a committee; 3. the allegation raised by the Supervisor is that he disagrees with the conclusions of the Corporation Counsel. Therefore, he requested Corporation Counsel provide a brief, non-debatable response to the allegation at the June County Board meeting. Norton-Bauman thanked Pietrick and Kling for their work and all department heads for their preliminary work on the budget. Adjourned at 12:15p.m. Vice Chair Esther Wentz Cindy Campbell, Recording Secretary