Finance Committee

finance_committee_minutes_09-10-18.pdf (146 KB)

Sauk County Finance Committee

Room 213, West Square Building, Baraboo                                                                    Monday, September 10, 2018

Members present:                John Dietz, Tom Kriegl, Kevin Lins and Bill Wenzel

Excused:                       Kristin White Eagle

Others present:             Kerry Beghin, Amanda Blomberg, Alene Bolin, Jim Daniels, Liz Geoghegan, Lynn Horkan, Adrienne Olson, Tony Tyczynski, Peter Vedro and media

The meeting was called to order by J Dietz at 8:00 AM.  Certification of open meeting compliance was given. 

Motion by Wenzel, second by Lins to adopt the agenda.  Motion carried.  Motion by Lins, second by Kriegl to adopt the minutes of previous meetings on August 13 and 21, 2018.  Motion carried.

Public Comment:  None

Communications:  None

Update on possible 2018 budget overrun for Emergency Management Department.

Bolin reviewed the response to the flood and the long term recovery. 

Presentation and review of 2017 audited financial statements, management letter, and report on federal and state awards.

Blomberg reviewed financial highlights including fund balances and summarized income statements.  Blomberg reported there were no significant deficiencies or internal control weaknesses in the audit.  A prior internal control deficiency has been removed due to process improvements.  The management letter includes new reporting standards and other suggestions.  The single audit is currently in the review process, do not anticipate any issues.

Review of Register in Probate 2019 budget.

Daniels reviewed the Register in Probate activities and the 2019 budget.  Highlighted interpreters, jury trials and electronic filing. 

Review of Veterans Service Office 2019 budget.

Tyczynski reviewed the budget which includes additional hours for a part time staff. 

Review of Child Support 2019 budget.

Olson reviewed the mandated child support program and the budget.  The department meets and exceeds state goals and is rewarded thought incentive revenues.  She highlighted staffing, state rules and revenue changes. 

Review of Debt Service 2019 budget.

Beghin reviewed the current debt service.  The debt service fund includes only law enforcement debt; Health Care Center (HCC) debt is in the HCC fund.  There is a 2019 opportunity to call HCC debt, saving interest costs.  Discussed use of fund balance for calling debt.  Beghin noted ideally this could be considered in the overall budget decisions.  The timeline would be summer of 2019 because the debt call date is October 1, 2019.

Consider update to Financial Policy 2-97, Employee Reimbursements.

Beghin reviewed the update.  Motion by Wenzel, second by Kriegl to update Financial Policy 2-97, Employee Reimbursements.  Motion carried.

Update on revolving loan fund for economic development proposed state close out program.

Bolin reviewed the state close out of the Community Development Block Grant-Economic Development (CDBG ED) loan program options.  Consensus is to build the program into the budget.  A resolution will need to go to the County Board once State clearly defines the terms of the program.  Bolin noted the current loans would continue to be monitored for compliance. 

Review of 2019 budget process and projections, outside agency request process.

Bolin reviewed the change to the levy limit calculation concerning personal property.  Health insurance may come in at 5%, which is about $65,000 decrease compared to the 6% currently built into budgets.  Possible use of general fund balance is $7.7 million including CDBG close program.  There are approximately 10 new positions in departmental budgets.  Staffing expansion brings space issues.  Also on the horizon is planning for a new Highway shop.  Discussed various fund balances and the amount available as unassigned general fund balance versus other fund balance classifications.  Discussed the need for a possible special meeting.  Consensus of the Committee that there is no need for a special County Board meeting to discuss budget.  The outside agency process for 2020 budget will be reviewed.

Presentation of ATC Environmental Impact Fee payments: 

International Crane Foundation $50,000.

Presentation of County financial reports.

Beghin reviewed financials though July.  Sales tax for June 2018 is the highest month of collection ever.

Treasurer’s Department Update. 

Geoghegan reviewed departmental activities.  Second half of property tax collections are posted and delinquent letters have been distributed.  Motion by Kriegl, second by Wenzel to approve payment of Treasurer’s Department invoices in the amount of $197,444.14.  Motion carried. 

Accounting Department Update. 

Beghin reviewed the departmental activities.  Motion by Kriegl, second by Lins to approve payment of Accounting Department invoices in the amount of $88,500.00.  Motion carried.  Motion by Lins, second by Kriegl to approve County accounts payable invoices in the amount of $3,751,282.83.  Motion carried.  Motion by Kriegl, second by Lins to approve Committee vouchers.  Motion carried.    

Public Comment:  None

Finance Committee Budget meetings are September 27-28, 2018.  Next regular meeting Monday, October 8, 2018, 8AM.

Motion by Vedro, second by Kriegl to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

John Dietz, Finance Committee Chair