HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance 07-10-02
i AMENDED
ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Chairman Buck Malick
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Tom O'Connell
COMMITTEE TITLE: Finance and Personnel**
DATE: Wednesday July 10, 2002 8:30 A.M. **note date**
LOCATION: Ole Anderson Community Room, Government Center, Hudson
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: August 9, 2002 8:30 A.M.
ACTION ON PREVIOUS M NUTES
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Review of Vouchers
2. 2003 Budget Review - Meeting with Committee Chairs 9:00 a.m.
a. Closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. sec. 19.85 (1) (e) to discuss strategies for negotiating
collective bargaining agreements.**
b. Reconvene into open session.**
3. Building Maintenance Report
a. Contingency Fund Request - UPS Battery Replacement
4. Information Services Report
5. Finance Report
a. Review of Financial Reports
b. 2003 Budget Instructions
6. Corporation Counsel Report
7. Clerk's Report
8. Risk Manager's Report
a. 2003 Budgeting
9. Administrative Coordinator's Report
a. Funds for Minnesota Cooperative Purchasing Venture Network
b. Update on Personnel Study
c. Consideration of Ag Center Lease Renewal
d. Extension of NRCS Agreement*
10. Review of Nursing Home Management Audit Report
11. Review of Goal Setting Objectives
CORRESPONDENCE:
ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order)
Date: July 10, 2002
COPIES TO: County Board Office News Media/Notice Board
County Clerk County Board
County Departments
* *ADDITIONS/CHANGES/CORRECTIONS
~a Finance Committee July 10, 2002
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting July 10, 2002
Meeting called to order by Chair O'Connell at 8:30 a.m. Members
present: Esther Wentz, Ralph Swenson, Clarence Malick, Tom
O'Connell. Absent and excused - Stan Krueger. Staff present:
Administrative Coordinator Chuck Whiting, Finance Director Rich
Loney, Corporation Counsel Greg Timmerman and County Clerk Sue
Nelson. Others present: Committee Chairs (listed later) and
Judy Wiff, Media.
Motion by Wentz, 2nd by Swenson to adopt the agenda. Carried.
Next meeting is August 9, 2002, 8:30 a.m. Moved by Swenson, 2nd
by Malick to approve the minutes with the following correction:
on page 5 after possibly having a closed session add "for the
purpose of discussing the financial options of our labor
negotiations strategy". Carried.
Vouchers: Swenson had reviewed the vouchers before the meeting
and moved approval of payment; second by Wentz. Carried.
Building Maintenance: Facilities Manager Ralph Robole reported
during an incidence of switching the power to run the emergency
generator, three batteries in the uninterruptible power source
failed. This caused an eight minute loss in 911 and office
computers. Normally the funds to replace the batteries would
come from Computer Services but the operational funds and capital
funds are committed for this year. The plan was to request a
contingency fund transfer of $5,000 to replace the batteries that
are beyond warranty. Robole reported in the gas fund line item,
only 26% of the fund has been used so far and we are half way
through the year. Robole offered to use the gas fund to replace
the batteries.
Motion by Malick, 2nd by Swenson to approve $5,000 line item
transfer from the gas fund to the 247 account. Carried.
Computer Services: Director Tom Boron said the CAT 6 wiring
project is nearly completed. The master storage device is in
place. Boron said the 911 Center should have a separate battery
back up.
Corporation Counsel: Greg Timmerman had no report.
County Clerk: Sue Nelson noted after the filing deadline for
County Offices, there are three candidates for County Clerk,
three for County Treasurer, two for Sheriff and Register of Deeds
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Finance Committee July 10, 2002
and Clerk of Courts are unopposed. There will be a primary for
both County Clerk and Treasurer.
Administrative Coordinator: Chuck Whiting requested $500 to join
the MN Cooperative Purchasing Venture Network. The County joined
last year and saved much more than the $500 on the purchase of
new radios. Motion by Malick, 2nd by Wentz to approve $500 from
the Contingency Fund for the membership fee in the Minnesota
Cooperative Purchasing Network. Carried.
Personnel Study - Current job descriptions have been forwarded to
Springsted.
Ag. Center Lease: Whiting has negotiated with the Dept. of
Agriculture to increase the rent more than the $13.06 per square
foot but was unsuccessful. Motion by Malick, 2nd by Wentz to
renew the lease with the Farm Service Agency for five years per
the lease agreement of $13.06 a square foot. Carried.
NRCS Agreement: Whiting reported the house moving project from
the flood plain is completed but there is some paper work to do
on the property transfer. Motion by Malick, 2nd by Swenson to
extend the NRCS agreement until August 30, 2002. Carried.
Finance Director: Rich Loney noted the County's liquid assets
stand at $20,077,649 and the Contingency Fund balance is
$228,000. Out of the $4,250,000 budgeted for sales tax revenue
there is $2,269,172 left to collect. He believes a 2%% increase
would be reasonable for the 2003 budget revenues.
The Nursing Home as of May 31, 2002 has an excess of revenues
over expenses of $167,659.
Loney met with Sheriff Hillstead and Jail Captain Karen Humphrey.
The jail meal costs should be just under the budgeted amount of
$303,665 and revenue from boarding prisoners is projected at a
shortfall of $73,8000. There are now more county inmates rather
than prisoners from other sources who rent space at our jail.
Supr. Speer commented the average jail population for June was
109 and 112 for May.
Loney reported both the outstanding check problem and check
reconciliation of cash have been solved.
Joint Meeting with Committee Chairs: Present were -
Linda Luckey, Administration; Chris Bethke, Ag and Extension;
Julie Speer, Public Protection; Chuck Mehls, Emerg. Mgmt./Comm.;
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Finance Committee July 10, 2002
Daryl Standafer, Personnel; Art Jensen, Planning,Zoning,Parks;
Ron Raymond, Infor. Services; Dick King, Transportation;
Leon Berenschot, Health and Human Services and Art Jacobson,
County Board Vice Chair.
Whiting said the Legislature has reached an agreement on the
State budget which the Governor is reviewing and has until August
1St to sign. There are no levy limits.
Swenson stated the Health Insurance will increase 17% for a cost
increase of $800,096. He used the scenario of wages at 2% the
increase would be $457,410; Health Insurance at $800,096, Capital
Outlay and Operational Expenses at no increase and debt service
at an additional $99,400 means a total increase of $1,448,385.
At a 10% increase in valuation the levy increases by $1,645,363
and at 12% the levy increases by $2,056,704. Six different
scenarios of increase valuation were provided by Loney. Swenson
also said to consider in 2004 shared revenue would be cut
$240,000.
Whiting used an overhead chart showing the health insurance
increase and 2% wage increase to project mill rates. Loney and
Whiting will review and modify the chart. Swenson reminded all
present the 2% wage increase does not include reclassifications
or new positions.
The Personal Time Off (PTO) payments and accrual are not on the
books. Sheriff Hillstead commented he has an officer on PTO
since February 5th and will be until August. Wages come out of
the Sheriff's wage budget so he can't replace the person. Health
and Human Services Director John Borup said the PTO program is
generous and creates more non productive time. A new person on
the job gets one month PTO the first year.
At the August meeting, Finance committee is to check the audit
for PTO numbers. Personnel Director Kathan said not as many
people retire from the County and use the long term sick leave
bank as the numbers in the audit would indicate.
Risk Manager's Report: Dawn Budrow reported total payments made
for work comp through 7-10-02 were $239,624. There are 57 claims
this year vs 59 last year. The summer help in the Highway Dept.
has filed several claims.
Over 100 people attended the Evacuation Training and favorable
comments were received. A fire drill is planned for August.
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Finance Committee July 10, 2002
Budrow and the loss control person from WMMIC did a countywide
risk assessment.
Budrow would like to have a separate budget for Workers' Comp and
Liability. This would be an information tool or operations
budget so in addition to losses, she would know actual costs to
run the programs. A separate budget would provide for tracking
on how much is in the fund. Each department is assessed a
percentage for liability in their budget. Moved by Malick, 2nd by
Wentz to authorize a budgeting procedure for the Risk Manager.
Carried.
Committee members and Chairs provided their views on setting the
mill rate for 2003 budget. Malick supported scenario #3 which
used a 15% valuation increase and no mill rate increase. King
said the county tax is small compared to school taxes and the
County has held the mill rate for the last 10 years. He
suggested raising it now before a freeze is in place.
Wentz said to raise the mill rate a bit for a cushion. Luckey
thought the mill rate should be lowered a bit. Mehls commented
in 2004 there would be large capital outlay request for new
communication towers so the mill rate should be increased a small
amount. Speer preferred a small increase.
Standafer stated this is not the time to raise taxes. He supports
maintaining or decreasing the mill rate and live within our
means. Jensen said the new towers, Nursing Home and possible new
Huber section for the jail will be high cost items. He
recommended putting money away for future expenses. St. Croix
has a lower mill rate than Dunn County. Raymond said there are
certain vital services the County needs to provide. If need be,
raise the mill rate for wage increases but don't sacrifice
projects to pay wages.
King said the Highway Dept. is a unique operation. Revenues are
received on a cost basis. Many grants are obtained and the
department can't cut programs. The only increase would be wage
settlements. The Highway budget is down from 27% to 19% of the
total county budget and there are fewer employees than 10 years
ago.
Berenschot noted the Governor is cutting $50 million from ITP
funding for the Nursing Home. The Wipfli report on the Nursing
home could have been more complete. He recommended raising the
mill rate some to fund for a rainy day.
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Finance Committee July 10, 2002
Vice Chair Jacobson asked if we had ever done a check of
priorities in each department to see if the services provided are
all necessary. He said to leave the mill rate the same because
we will still have an increase due to re-evaluation and probable
sales tax increase.
Bethke, who was excused for a Dr.'s appointment, left a written
note stating Extension is trying to cut anywhere possible.
Swenson is opposed to any increase in the mill rate and stated we
need to make choices. O'Connell favors scenario #3 with 15%
valuation, no mill rate increase and no borrowing for projects.
Speer said currently the budget for Medical Examiner is at 29%,
Child Support 46%, District Attorney and Victim Witness are
operating below half of the 2002 budget. The Sheriff predicts
$40,000 to $50,000 overage in the overtime budget by end of year.
Budget Instructions: Motion by Malick, 2nd by Swenson that a 0%
increase be budgeted for operations. Carried.
Motion by Malick, 2nd by Wentz to eliminate the formula for
training in departments. Carried. Department heads are to
determine amount of training necessary for staff.
Mehls gave an update on Operation Harvest - a plan to collect
unpaid fines and forfeitures. Fifty-three percent of all fines
are given to out of state drivers. Credit card machines for
patrol cars are being considered. The tax intercept program will
be used where overdue fines are reported to the State Dept. of
Revenue which checks the lists at tax time. The fine is paid
from the person's tax return.
Using an example from Eau Claire County, if there were 1000
outstanding fines at $364, a possible $364,000 could be
recovered. Presently there is $2.2 million in outstanding fines.
Malick suggested one half the collected fines could go to the
county budget and one half could go to Public Protection to
decide and divide the funds. Swenson suggested this not be set
at this time.
Motion by Malick, 2nd by Swenson to go into closed session per WI
Statute, sec. 10.95 (1)(e) to discuss strategies for negotiating
collective bargaining agreements. Loney, Whiting and Kathan were
invited to stay for the closed session. Roll call: all yes.
Carried.
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rFinance Committee July 10, 2002
Motion by Malick, 2nd by Wentz to come out of closed session at
12:30 p.m. Carried. Motion to adjourn by King. Meeting
adjourned at 12:30 p.m.
Sue E. Nelson, Recording Secretary
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