Finance Committee

Finance Committee Minutes 092513 (48 KB)

Members present:  Tommy Lee Bychinski, Joan Fordham, Jason Lane, Andrea Lombard and William F. Wenzel

Others present:  Meg Allen, Judy Ashford, Kerry Beghin, Cindy Bodendien, Stephanie Box, Dan Brattset, Kevin Calkins, Darin Carignan, Art Carlson, Jim Daniels, John Dietz, Theresa Dietz, Tom Fandry, Jessica Fry, Kevin Fults, Kim Gochanour, Leo Grill, Greg Hahn, Lynn Horkan, Tom Kriegl, Marty Krueger, Amy Lee, Tom Litscher,  Chip Meister, Vicki Meister, Steve Muchow, Yvonne Neuman, Donna Neuwirth, Keri Olson, Bill Orth, Lee Roundy,  Kathy Schauf, Jeff Spencer, Tony Tyczynski, Bev Vaillancourt, Cathy Warwick, and media

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Bychinski at 8:00 AM.  Certification of open meeting compliance was given.  Motion by Lombard, second by Lane to allow supervisors and public to comment for 3 minutes after departmental presentations.  Motion carried.  Motion by Lombard, second by Wenzel to adopt the agenda.  Motion carried. 

Public Comment:  None

Discussion and consideration of the 2014 County Budget. 
Reviewed levy limits and current committee budget requests.   Beghin reviewed the Finance and Personnel Committees’ prior consensus to include an amount for the classification and compensation study implementation based on a consultant recommended amount.  She noted this is simply an amount to enable implementation of the plan once the study is completed and this amount is not in the oversight recommended budget totals.  Also, the expected health insurance rate will be slightly less than current oversight budgets.  Beghin noted the sworn union has an increase included in the budgeted figures.  The fund balance financial policy was distributed.

Public Works – Highway:
Muchow commented budget maintains at the same level of service as recent years.  Change can be seen in an increased fuel cost.  General transportation aids from state is expected to remain stable.  When additional federal/state funding is available, more can be paved per year.  If roads program is not kept up, the maintenance costs increase.  A new state unfunded mandate adds 3 feet of paved shoulder to each new project resulting in additional cost of $10,000 per mile.  Currently, county roads are in very good shape due to maintaining level of service consistently over years. 

Justice and Public Safety departments:
Vicki Meister reviewed the functional group mission, vision and goals.  New goals highlighted were security and justice continuum. 

Child Support:  Fandry noted state restored funding to the 2007-2008 level allowing for a decrease in the departmental levy.  Fandry talked about the trends and clientele served.  Current active cases are approaching 4,000. 

Circuit Courts:  (previously presented 9/10/13)

Clerk of Courts:  Vicki Meister commented caseloads and duties remain consistent.  The 2014 department has one fewer staff.  Appointed counsel fees along with the corresponding revenues are down due to change in public defender eligibility.  Interest revenues have decreased based on rule limiting the chargeable interest rate.  Collections remain stable. 

Coroner:  Hahn highlighted slight increase in fuel expenses.  Capital outlay includes replacement of 2005 Ford Expedition.  Cremation fees are included in 2014.  Use of vehicles was discussed. 

Court Commissioner / Family Court Counseling Service:  Grill noted no changes from prior years.  Service fees are still covering cost of mediation program. 

District Attorney (DA)/ Victim Witness:  Calkins noted increase in budget for victim witness staff from a .6 FTE (full time equivalent) to .8 FTE.  Caseload numbers in victim witness unit have increased.  DA continues to balance caseloads with hard decisions around prosecution.  Municipal courts help with DA caseload.  Over 400 OWI (operating while intoxicated) first offences have been handled at the municipal level.  The state is talking about making the first offense OWI criminal, which would have substantial impact on the DA office. 

Register in Probate:  Daniels noted numbers are consistent except mental health commitments are down.  Even though filings are about same, many probate cases involve contested issues.  Contested cases result in extensions and delayed revenues.  The outside agency request is zero due to the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program losing state funding.  Paternity testing for children in need of protection (CHIPS) cases is new to the department. 

Sheriff Department, Jail Assessment, Drug Seizures:
Meister noted department has a zero levy increase even with the requested addition of a new drug officer.  Drug officer will cost $110,581 for wages and vehicle.  Meister discussed increased drug use spurs other crimes and involve multiple county departments.  Narcan saves to reverse heroin overdose increased from 2010 - 10 saves to 2012 – 59 saves.  Human trafficking in the area was discussed.  Meister budgeted jail revenues at the 2013 amount estimating 18.66 inmates.  The oversight committee recommended the jail revenue be increased to make a zero increase to the levy, so an estimated 22.11 inmates, an additional $64,903.  Meister noted it is unknown if this revenue amount can be met.  Huber and electronic monitoring were discussed.  A new dog is scheduled for an existing officer in October. 

Supervisor comment:  Supervisor Kriegl commented on the budget. 

Recess at 9:50 until 1:00 PM.
Resumed at 1:00 PM

Motion by Lombard, second by Wenzel to allow supervisors and public to comment for 3 minutes after departmental presentations.  Motion carried.

Arts, Humanities & Historic Preservation:  Ashford reviewed the Arts budget and noted Wormfarm Institute has requested $40,000 as match to a NEA two year grant.  Project is an economic rural development grant and has received national attention.  Neuwirth commented Fermentation Fest plans include multiple disciplines such as the arts, conservation, environment, economic development, food, tourism, etc.  The agri-tourism event will be entering its third year.  Neuwirth commented she is not anticipating the same request for next year.

Libraries: Vaillancourt reviewed the funding and services/programs of the libraries.  The request is down approximately $9,000.  She reviewed circulation and plans to increase e-book selections.  The Sauk County Library Board is working to get the calculation revised to meet the current needs of library services.  Vaillancourt noted the libraries are going through a huge transition due to technology and everyone is trying to keep up.

Supervisor comment:  Supervisor Carlson commented on the library services and growth. 

Health & Human Services/Supportive Services Departments
Gochanour summarized the functional group collaborative initiatives. 

Aging & Disability Resource Center:  Olson, Interim Director, reviewed the structure, services and funding in the agency.  Continue to evaluate trends to manage resources.  Noted grant fund adjustments and alignment of staffing and existing services to reduce the current levy request by $53,091.  Roundy reviewed program changes.  The meal program and trends were discussed.  Transportation program and services were discussed. 

Supervisor comment:  Supervisor Carlson commented on transportation program.

Environmental Health:  Bodendien reviewed the highlights of the budget.  The levy cost to continue the program is unchanged.  Currently working on a memorandum of understanding between the involved counties. 

Health Care Center (HCC): Gochanour noted budget is based on same residency trends and funding mix as 2013.  She talked about staffing, funding sources, collections and the supplemental payment program.  Similar to other departments, HCC has seen an increase in acuity with residents.  The budget includes a 4% increase in private pay rate.  Beghin highlighted the allocation of sales tax to pay for debt service with the HCC and general County.  The HCC vacancy factor has been decreased by $50,000 to $250,000.  Anticipate absorbing 2013 lost revenue due to quarantine by end of 2013.  Capital is increased for additional computer system modules to add functionality.  HCC foundation bylaws are being revised to meet needs of HCC residents as well as staff. 

Supervisor comment:  Supervisor Carlson commented on HCC foundation.

Home Care:  Bodendein noted the acuity level of referrals is reviewed as the department continues manage its resources.  Efficiencies have been gained with the new computer system.  2014 includes an oversight committee supported $55,000 levy addition to the program.  As of today, the estimated 2013 variance to budget is reduced to $10,000.  Based on time study, the deputy director costs have been reallocated across multiple programs outside of home care. 

Human Services (HS):  Orth reviewed the trends and service allocation.  Orth noted the prior request to have the psychiatrist as staff has been withdrawn. Orth highlighted funding and issues around the affordable care act (ACA).  He noted the additional therapist approved for 2013 has had the desired result in aiding families and diverting hospitalizations.  Orth spoke about the effect of drug use to the department.  He noted the Medicaid program Comprehensive Community Services has been funded at 60% and will be 100% funded as of July 1, 2014.  Discussed outcome based measures in programs and continuing to refine them. 

Public Health:  Bodendein noted new staff request to help with accreditation, computer system and back up for billing and payroll.  Reviewed dental grants and services.   

Veterans Service:  Tyczynski commented on budget highlights.  Committee noted goals touch on changing trends and changing needs of veterans.  Tyczynski noted that service organizations have helped in multiple ways to meet veterans’ needs. 

Supervisor comment:  Supervisor Carlson commented on veteran services.

Women, Infants & Children (WIC):  The WIC program continues to be grant funded with no county levy.  Caseload remains around 1,400. 

Public Comment:  None

Motion by Wenzel to adjourn the meeting at 3:26 pm, second by Lane.  Motion carried.  2014 Budget presentations will begin at 8:00 AM on Thursday, September 26, 2013.

Respectfully submitted,  

Joan Fordham
Finance Committee Secretary