Finance Committee- Budget Review

Members present:        Tommy Lee Bychinski, Wally Czuprynko, Joan Fordham, Marty Krueger and Andrea Lombard

 

Others present:             Judy Ashford, Brent Bailey, Kerry Beghin, Ann Burton, Kevin Calkins, Darin Carignan, Jim Daniels, John Dietz, Jennifer Erickson, Tom Fandry, Leo Grill, Greg Hahn, Lynn Horkan, Steve Koenig, Tom Kriegl, Jessica Machovec, Chip Meister, Vicki Meister, Brentt Michalek, David Moore, Steve Muchow, Stephanie Neumann, Yvonne Neumann, Maureen Palmer, Steve Pate, Brian Simmert, Kathy Schauf, Jeff Spencer, Pam Thompson, Bev Vaillancourt (via Skype) and William Wenzel.

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Bychinski at 8:30 AM.  Certification of open meeting compliance was given.  Motion by Lombard, second by Czuprynko to allow supervisors and public to comment for 3 minutes after departmental presentations.  Motion carried.  Motion by Lombard, second by Fordham to adopt the agenda.  Motion carried.

 

Public Comment:  None

 

Discussion and consideration of the 2015 County Budget.

 

Public Works – Highway:

Muchow commented the budget is constructed to maintain similar level of service as previous years.  The increase in wages was offset with health insurance decrease.  Included in the budget is a projected increase for fuel costs and significant increase in the cost of salt.  Bridge aids are down for 2015.  Muchow reviewed major projects for 2015.  With the addition of federal funding for a 2015 project additional miles as compared to 2014 will be repaired.  Krueger commented on the work Wisconsin Counties Association is doing to restore transportation funding.  The Committee discussed weight limits on roadways.

 

Justice and Public Safety departments:

Vicki Meister reviewed the functional group’s mission, vision and goals.

 

Child Support:  Fandry reviewed the budget noting the federal match remains the same at 66%.  The increase in departmental wages was offset by health insurance decrease.

 

Circuit Courts:  (previously presented 9/05/14)

 

Clerk of Courts:  Vicki Meister reviewed goals and objectives for the department.  She noted there has been a decrease in case numbers which in turn affects revenues.  Department duties are mandated by state.  She reviewed departmental collection efforts.  The Committee discussed moving to paperless filing and additional filing charges.

 

Supervisor Comment:  Supervisor Kriegl and Supervisor Wenzel commented on the budget.

 

Coroner:  Hahn noted changes due to increase in cremation permits and work required for the death investigations.  Budget includes replacement of 2005 Ford Expedition vehicle.

 

Court Commissioner / Family Court Counseling Service:  Grill noted budget does not differ markedly from prior years.  Case numbers remain consistent, still see many pro se litigants.

 

District Attorney (DA)/ Victim Witness:  Calkins noted felony and misdemeanor cases have increased.  Office supplies have decreased due to paperless transition.  The budget includes restored funding for a summer intern.  Calkins noted it is unknown the effect the CJCC will have on the department.  The Committee discussed case trends and changes in laws and enforcement.

 

Register in Probate:  Daniels noted budget is similar.  Bulk of revenue is from probate filing fees.  Many filings are extended due to contentious family matters.  Daniels reviewed the type of legal expenses in the department.

 

Sheriff Department, Jail Assessment, and Drug Seizures:  Meister reviewed the requested levy amount indicating it was due in most part to wages, health insurance savings helped minimize this increase.  Huber and electronic monitoring revenues are down.  Meister commented on revenue trends and the fluid unpredictable nature of inmate population.   The budget includes revenues for 22 rental inmates per day.  Currently, all rental income is from state and federal inmates.  Meister noted the oversight committee recommended staying with the 22 inmate rental average, same as the 2014 budget.  2014 additional drug officer activities were reviewed; search warrants are on track to double.  Meister commented the grants are down which decreases the additional hours officers are on the roads for targeted contacts. One officer’s squad was paid for by federal dollars due to his work on a statewide fugitive task force.  The Committee discussed the Humane Society services to the department and monthly reporting to the oversight committee.  Schauf commented that the County contract with the Humane Society is service specific and is only a portion of the Humane Society services and other operations.

 

Supervisor comment:  Supervisor Kriegl, Supervisor Dietz, Supervisor Wenzel and Supervisor Moore commented on the budget.

 

No significant changes to the jail assessment and drug seizure budgets.

 

Recess at 10:45 until 1:00 PM.

Resumed at 1:00 PM

 

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

 

Libraries:  Vaillancourt appeared via Skye and reviewed the library budget, programs and other activities.  Ashford commented on the reimbursement calculation and the County residents’ use of the libraries.  The Committee discussed e-book costs and trends.  Due to stale state laws e-books are not included in the circulation formula.  Vaillancourt commented that libraries should grow and be central in the community.  Circulations are on the upswing and there continues to be diverse programing offered and shared among the libraries.

 

Arts, Humanities & Historic Preservation:  Ashford note only difference is an additional $1,000 for the Historical Society.  Arts Board funding continues as a positive support for programs and puts the County in a very good light.

 

Land Resources departments

Pate commented on the group’s collective efforts and focus.

 

Conservation Planning & Zoning:  Michalek reviewed budget highlights and outlook for 2015.  He reviewed likelihood and benefits of receiving the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grant.  Michalek noted there will be a few ordinances reviewed in 2015.  Conservation easement project money should be substantially spent by the end of 2014.

 

Land Records Modernization:  Pate reviewed funding streams and use; there is no levy in the department.  He highlighted goals and objectives of the fund.  He discussed contour and orthophotography, remonutmentation , digital written descriptions and graphic information systems (GIS).  In the future, programs such as public health and land water information can all be incorporated into the data.  2015 budget includes capital projects and a limited term employee (LTE) for quality control.

 

Parks:  Koenig reviewed the budget and highlighted changes.  The Committee discussed dam studies and maintenance of the Hemlock Dam, using adequate carryforward funds.  The budget includes replacement of a mower funded through the forestry management funds.  The Great Sauk Trail process and planning were discussed.  Dollars in budget are based on the number of miles and a DNR per mile estimated cost.  Grant funding will be sought and in-kind contributions will made towards the project.  Until more planning is done, a more specific estimate cannot be made.

 

Register of Deeds:  Bailey reviewed his budget and noted filing fees are down.  Redaction fees will sunset at the end of 2014.

 

Surveyor:  Dederich noted only changes to budget are for a small increase in dues and MIS chargeback line items.

 

UW-Extension:  Erickson reviewed the major programming areas.  She reviewed the budget and highlighted the changes.

 

Non-departmental accounts and general discussion

 

County Board:  Krueger noted the budget continues to include dollars for meeting management.  Expenses are based on committee attendance anticipated.  The Committee discussed voting system and audio solutions.

 

Krueger reviewed the outside agency requests that were requested through the Economic Development Committee.

 

CDBG:  Schauf reviewed the multiple CDBG programs.  She described the regional and local funding models.

 

 

 

 

Debt Service:  Beghin reviewed the 2014 refinancing and its impact on debt expenses.  Beghin explained the addition to fund balance in the budget to smooth the levy impact of fluctuations in debt service due to the refunding.  The Committee discussed benefits of keeping debt service funding level.  Beghin also noted the $2 million fund balance applied to refunding was used entirely for the Law Enforcement Center’s debt not Health Care Center (HCC) in order to capture more Medicare and Medicaid funding.

 

Beghin reviewed and the Committee discussed other general non-departmental line items.

 

The Committee discussed and agreed to meet for further budget discussion after the October 1, 2014 Personnel/Finance Joint Committee meeting.

 

Public Comment:  None

 

Motion by Lombard, second by Fordham to adjourn the meeting at 3:45 pm.  Motion carried.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Andrea Lombard

Finance Committee Secretary