Finance Committee

finance_committee_minutes_10-04-19_budget.pdf (223 KB)

FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES    

Room 213, West Square Building, 505 Broadway, Baraboo WI   Friday, October 4, 2019

Members present:        Tony DeGiovanni, John Dietz, Tom Kriegl, Kevin Lins and Kristin White Eagle

Others present:             Kerry Beghin, Alene Bolin, Dan Brattset, Ian Crammond, Ed Geick, Bryant Hazard, Lynn Horkan, Joan Kenney, Mike Mittlesteadt, Chuck Spencer and Peter Vedro

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dietz at 9:00 AM.  Certification of open meeting compliance was given.  Motion by Lins, second by White Eagle to adopt the agenda.  Motion carried. 

Public Comment:  Ed Geick commented on municipal airport outside agency funding request.  Mike Mittlesteadt commented on the Lake Redstone Protection District outside agency funding request. 

Discussion and consideration of the 2020 County Budget.Budget discussions may include examination of programs offered, revenues and expenditures, capital purchases, and staffing levelsDiscussion and consideration of the 2020 County Budget.  Budget discussions may include examination of programs offered, revenues and expenditures, capital purchases, and staffing levels.

Beghin reviewed the status of the budget levy amount and new information concerning state revenues for computer aid and highway transportation aids. 

Kriegl distributed a document titled “Corrective steps to 2020 Sauk County budget Oct 4, 2019:” Crammond commented on Property Committee budget action from October 3, 2019.  The tactical channel update project needs to be paused to enable completion and maintenance of other communications projects.  Committee discussed sheriff department budget.  Kenney from the Boys & Girls Club commented on their programs and number of kids served.  General fund balance use was reviewed.  Motion by Kriegl, second by DeGiovanni to amend the budget by documented items on the “Corrective steps to 2020 Sauk County budget Oct. 4, 2019.”

Building Services: Restore the $50,000 for electric vehicle charging stations to the Building Services budget. (from general fund not tax levy)=zero tax levy increase.

Building Services:Restore the design work at animal shelter $30,000 to be taken from general fund not tax levy. =zero tax levy increase.It was never supposed to be more than $30,000 from fund balance.

Land Resources & Environment: Restore funding of $25,000 for Friends of the Baraboo River (from general fund) = zero tax levy increase.

Sheriff Department:Restore $5,000 for Bar Buddies funding = $5,000 more in tax levy.

Human Services: Restore funding for Boys and Girls Club to $50,000 = $30,000 more in tax levy.

Administrative Coordinator:Reduce Community Liaison positon funding by $15,000 = $15,000 less in tax levy.

Building Services:Decrease communications project = tax levy reduction $147,700, from Property Committee Oct 3, 2019.

General Non-departmental and Highway:Levy reduction of $3,744 computer aid revenue increased and $152,236 increase in highway aid reduce Highway tax levy.

Summary of above items net effect to budget is a net reduction of $283,680 tax levy.

Sheriff Department:It should be understood that the reduction in the Sheriff's proposed budget of $500,000 is based on the savings projected from reduced staffing in the Huber Center by transitioning to electronic monitoring of all Huber inmates by no later than June 1st 2020, which should require significantly less staff.This should allow plenty of time to transition with planning starting ASAP.Turnover in the Sheriff's dept. was 24 people in 2016, 18 people in 2017, 18 people in 2018.Consequently, with proper planning, it should be possible to implement the changes including elimination of positions without laying off employees (without delaying implementation).

Motion by White Eagle, second by Kriegl to amend previous motion by removing item 6) Administrative Coordinator:  Reduce Community Liaison positon by $15,000, decrease tax levy.  Motion carried unanimously.

Called for vote.  Amended Motion carried, with Lins opposed.

Motion by Kriegl, second by DeGiovanni to restore outside agency funding for three municipal airports $12,300 and Conservation Congress $1,400.  Motion carried.

Inventory of vehicles was discussed as a tool to use in evaluating new vehicle purchases.  Beghin noted that County is decentralized and individual departments keep vehicle details such as mileage and maintenance.  Accounting keeps track of vehicles for purposes of insurance and audit.  Beghin noted with today’s action tax levy is $19,278 under the levy limit.

Public Comment:  Joan Kenney from Boys & Girls Club thanked the County for its support. 

Next meeting October 4, 2019, 2:00PM Joint Personnel/Finance and October 8, Finance 8:15AM

Motion by DeGiovanni, second by White Eagle to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,  

Kristin White Eagle, Finance Committee Secretary