Finance Committee

100813 Minutes (69 KB)

Members present:  Tommy Lee Bychinski, Joan Fordham, Jason Lane, and Andrea Lombard, William F. Wenzel
Others present: John Allen, Kerry Beghin, Cindy Bodendein, John Dietz, Jessica Fry, Liz Geoghegan, Greg Hahn, Lynn Horkan, Tom Kriegl, Marty Krueger, Chip Meister, John Miller, Kathy Schauf, Tim Stieve, Cathy Warwick, other members of the public and media

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Bychinski at 8:15 AM.  Certification of open meeting compliance was given.  Motion by Fordham, second by Wenzel to approve the agenda.  Motion carried.  Motion by Lane, second by Lombard to approve the minutes of September 10, 17, 25, 26, and 30, 2013.  Motion carried. 

Public Comment:   John Allen commented on county policy.
Communications:  Krueger noted draft of agenda for Intergovernmental meeting and email from Dean Pleger about the science building project.

Consideration of 2014 budget recommendation to the County Board.

Sheriff’s Department:  Sheriff Meister explained the prisoner housing revenue is based on 22 inmates, but fluctuates daily.  An increase in housing revenue and decrease in levy could create a shortage of funding in future years if the revenue decreases.  Trends in inmate housing were discussed, including other counties’ jail construction and State plans.  Budget surplus returned to general fund was discussed.  Committee consensus was that the revenue is difficult to project and current budget is reasonable. 

Supervisor comment:  Supervisor Dietz commented on the budget. 

Coroner:  Hahn confirmed delaying the vehicle purchase is acceptable; needed repairs and maintenance on the current vehicle will be performed.

Home Care:  Bodendein commented on recent Home Care trends.  The potential for continued need of levy in the program was discussed.  Warwick reviewed the variability of client numbers and funding sources, combined with the complex episodic payment structure.  It is unknown at this time the effect the Affordable Care Act will have on reimbursement and services.  The Committee agreed a full discussion and analysis by the oversight committee along with a look at the functional group level outputs seems prudent.  Bodendein confirmed Home Care is not a mandated service.  Consensus by Committee to fund Home Care in 2014 with understanding the program will be reviewed with a look to the future.

Supervisor comment:  Supervisor Miller commented on the budget.  Supervisor Kriegl commented on budget. 

Treasurer Department:  Geoghegan commented on the interest and penalty revenue trends for collections on delinquent taxes.  Payment in lieu of taxes revenue was discussed.  Geoghegan noted she is comfortable with conservatively increasing these two revenue lines. 

Landfill Remediation:  Stieve reviewed the status and issues of landfill long term care funding.  Projections will be developed over the ensuing months.  Stieve indicated costs should stay fairly level in future years.  Leachate levels were discussed. 

Motion by Lane, second by Wenzel to update the 2014 budget to:  restore Home Care levy of $55,000; make no change to the Sheriff’s Department; increase the Treasurer’s payment in lieu of taxes revenue by $15,000 to $75,000; increase Treasurer’s interest on taxes by $100,000 to $700,000; and maximize levy to the amount legally allowable by increasing the budgeted amount for the Class and Compensation study implementation.  The net result of these updates generates a proposed property tax levy of $29,098,272.  Motion carried.

Consider approval of travel in excess of 300 miles for Public Health staff to attend accreditation training in Washington, D.C.
Bodendein reviewed the purpose and process of accreditation and confirmed training dollars are in the budget.  Motion by Lombard, second by Lane to approve travel in excess of 300 miles for Public Health staff to attend accreditation training near Washington, D.C.  Motion carried.

Consider resolution Authorizing the Sauk County Highway Department to Eliminate One, Full-Time (1.00 FTE) Patrolman, and Create One, Full-Time (1.00 FTE) Skilled Laborer Position Outside the Budget Process.
Motion by Fordham, second by Lombard to authorize the Sauk County Highway Department to Eliminate One, Full-Time (1.00 FTE) Patrolman, and Create One, Full-Time (1.00 FTE) Skilled Laborer Position Outside the Budget Process.  Motion carried.
 
FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES
EMBS Meeting Room, Courthouse, Baraboo WI     Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Presentation of County financial reports.
County financial information was reviewed and discussed.  Sales tax was discussed.  Reviewed key lines affecting the budget.  Beghin noted most everything else is where it is expected to be at this point.

Treasurer’s Department Update.
Geoghegan highlighted departmental activities and properties.  All assessments are in except one township.  In October there will be a resolution taking 15 tax deed properties.  Trends with financial institutions concerning delinquent properties were discussed.  Motion by Wenzel, second by Lombard to approve payment of Treasurer’s Department invoices in the amount of $187,988.79.  Motion carried.

Accounting Department Update.
Beghin highlighted departmental activities.  Motion by Lane, second by Fordham to approve payment of Accounting Department invoices in the amount of $6,010.92.  Motion carried.  Motion by Wenzel, second by Lane to approve County invoices in the amount of $2,098,857.85.  Motion carried.

Public Comment:   None 

Next regular Finance Committee meeting will be November 5, 2013.

Motion by Lombard, second by Fordham to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,  

Joan Fordham, Finance Committee Secretary