HomeMy WebLinkAboutord1984-1001
ADPTBD.85 /0
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DATE November 1, 1984 ,
INTRODUCED BY Consent
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PROPOSED BY Finance Committee
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ORDINANCE N0. 84 -101)
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AN ORDINANCE IN THE MATTBR OF
TM ADOPTION OF THE FINAL BUDGET OF
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W9ATCOM COUNTY FOR THE YEAR 1985
AND RESTRICTING TM MENDITURB OF
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CERTAIN FONDS TWMEN
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WHEREAS, pursuant to and in conformity with the provisions of Home Rule Charter,
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Section 6.10 relating to the County Budget system, the Whatoom County Executive
did complete and place on .file a Preliminary Budget for Whatcom County for the
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fiscal year of 1985, and
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WHEREAS, following the completion of the Preliminary Budget, a Notice was
published once each week for two consecutive weeks in the official newspaper of
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said County, which Notice stated that the County Council would meet on November
8, 1984, at 7:00 PM for the purpose of considering the Preliminary Budget
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presented by the County Executive, and ultimately fixing the final budget and
making tax levies, and that any taxpayer might appear and be heard for or
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against any part of said budget, and
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WHEREAS, several meetings of the Finance Committee were held between the dates
of October 23 and November 2, 1984 to analyze the amounts set forth for each
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department in the Budget and to make recommendations for changes, and
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WHEREAS, the County Council and its Finance Committee has analyzed the amounts
set forth in the Budget in reference to deciding whether the amounts were proper
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and necessary amounts to be used by the various departments of Whatcom County
for the year 1985, and
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WHEREAS, Notice was published once each week for two consecutive weeks in the
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official newspaper of the County, which Notice stated that the County Council
would meet on November 27, 1984, at 7:00 PM for the purpose of further Public
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Hearing on the Preliminary Budget as presented by the County Executive and the
recommended changes from the Council Finance Committee, together with the
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Committee's proposed restrictions on the expenditure of certain appropriations,
and said public hearing was in fact held;
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council:
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Section I. Adoption of Budget
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The amounts hereinafter set forth in the attached Exhibit "A" and incorporated
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herein by reference are hereby adopted as the Whatoom County Budget for the year
1985.
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ection II. Proviso Restricting Expenditures
Pursuant to Section 6.60 of the Whatcom County Home Rule Charter
the following provisions restricting the expenditure of certain
appropriations are enacted for the 1985 fiscal year. These pro-
visions are an integral part of the official budget of Whatcom
County and shall be published therewith.
(A) All monies appropriated herein within the Current Expense
Fund, Non - Departmental category for mental health. and alcoholism
shall provide for the maximum amount of direct service 'delivery
and shall not work to increase the proportions of the recipient
organizations' budgets that are devoted to administrative and
overhead expenses. It is further directed that the money appro-
priated therein for mental health shall provide for an array of
services to serve the acutely, chronically and severely mentally
ill, together with the seriously disturbed and victims of child
abuse and child sexual abuse, under specifications established
by the Whatcom County Mental Health Administrative Board, with
special emphasis on reducing entry of mentally ill persons into
the criminal justice system.
(B) None of the monies appropriated herein shall be used for
travel, lodging, or registration expenses for seminars, workshops,
conventions, association meetings, or out of County trips, except
as is required by law for mandated training or professional
accreditation, or as has been approved in advance by the County
Executive (for executive or administrative employees) or the
Chairperson of the County Council or the Finance Committee (for
legislative employees).
(C) This is an item, sub -item budget and expenditures are autho-
rized only in accordance with the budget and accounting sub -item
delineations contained in the budget ordinance and addenda thereto,
except as may be otherwise authorized by the County Executive
pursuant to his /her authority to make line -item transfers, as set
forth in Chapter 3.04 of the Whatcom County Code. The appropri-
ations for personnel designate specific positions; funds appropri-
ated for a specific position shall not be transferred to other
positions without the 'approval of the County Council. The depart-
ments and agencies of Whatcom County funded under this ordinance
are not authorized to expend money on personnel positions in excess
of the number of positions identified within the applicable
departmental or agency budget.
(D) To the extent they are available, motor pool cars shall-be
utilized for County travel purposes by employees stationed in the
central County complex before privately -owned vehicles are used on
a reimbursement basis. The County Executive shall be authorized't
grant exemption from this provision when the cost of a motor pool
vehicle would exceed the cost of the use of a private automobile.
(E) All construction work funded herein for which the estimated
cost is over $25,000 shall be bid out to private contractors,
pursuant to the bid procedures contained in Whatcom County Code
Chapter 3.08 and applicable state laws, except as the Council may
specifically authorize by exception.
(F) Any budgeted personnel positions, other than those of a part
time, temporary or seasonal nature, which become vacant for any
reason shall be refilled only upon written authorization of the
County Executive.
Ordinance - 2.
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I (G) Computer, photocopying, word processing and typewriting
equipment, and other office equipment and furniture'shall be
2 purchased through the Purchasing Department pursuant to a policy
and specifications designed to promote cost reductions, compati-
3 bility,,standardization and interchangeability of equipment, parts, .
and software, and optimum use of surplus equipment and furniture.
4 The policy and specifications shall be approved by the County
Executive.
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(H) Expenditures from the Emergency Contingency Fund shall be
6 made only upon advance approval of the.Council.
7 (I) The Purchasing Department shall be responsible for all office
equipment maintenance and repair contracts, and with the County
g Executive's approval, is the sole department authorized to nego-
tiate and enter into such contracts on behalf of Whatcom County.
.9 The Purchasing Department shall take advantage of contract consoli-
dation and competitive bidding to promote cost savings.
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(J) Any monies appropriated for senior services programs within
11 the Parks and Recreation Fund budget may not be transferred to any
other activity or program.
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(K) No requisitions or claims shall be submitted to or processed
13 by the Auditor or Purchasing Agent without sufficient unobligated
expenditure authority in the object code line -item in question,
14 except as allowed in the transfer process. Executive approval must
precede the commitment of funds above line -item appropriations for
15 personal services and travel and any combination of other line -item
exceeding $5,000.00 in any quarter.
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(L) To protect the taxpayers' investment, and to insure the
17 safety of the traveling public, the administration is to establish
a road maintenance program that sets as its first priority seal -
18. coating improved county roads and the attendant necessary work.
Funds in the following sub -base elements in the County Road Fund
19. maintenance budget (542.00) shall be prioritized in a manner to
accomplish this goal:
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542 -32, 542 -33, 542 -38•, 542 -67, 542 -68, 542 -78, 542 =79
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In case of emergency, the Public Works Director, with prior
22 approval of the County Executive, may direct these funds for
emergency road repairs. If funds are utilized for such emergencies,
23 the administration shall make a report to the County Council within
thirty (30) days of such use.
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(M) The rate of reimbursement for the authorized use of private
25 vehicles for County purposes shall' be twenty and one -half cents
(20.50) per mile if a County vehicle was not available for the trip
26 in question and twelve and one -half cents (12.5¢) per mile in the
absence of proof of the lack of availability of a County vehicle.
27 The County Executive may establish rules and regulations to
implement this provision.
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(N) To the extent possible consistent with the official budget
29 adopted by this ordinance, the various departments of Whatcom
County shall deploy their resources so as to meet the maintenance
30 of service level requirements of federal and.state grant contracts
(for example, in offices funded to handle juvenile and drinking
31 driver problems). The Prosecuting Attorney is requested to priori-
tize the prosecuting of crimes involving violence,.idrunk driving,
32 child abuse, and child sexual abuse, and to de- prioritize the
prosecution of victimless crimes.
Ordinance - 3.
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(0) It is the intent of the Council that the personnel lay -offs
required by this budget should occur beginning March 1, 1985.
(P) the County Auditor shall advertise the availability of motor
vehicle licensing agencies throughout the County.
(Q) The administration shall conduct an analysis of exempt
salaries for the purpose of cost control and the promotion of equit
among Whatcom County's exempt employees, within the overall budget
allocation for exempt salaries in 1985, said analysis to be done
in consultation with the Council Finance Committee and completed
by'March 1, 1985. Particular focus shall be given to those
departments which have been reduced in size and /or mission since
these salaries were last analyzed.
The administration shall further analyze the health and
welfare benefits provided to exempt employees and recommend to the
Council by March 1, 1985, ways and means of containing health and
welfare costs, with the goal of providing benefits and cost con-
trols generally comparable to those applicable to other County
employees.
(R)- The County Department of Alcohol Services shall provide the
criminal justice agencies of Whatcom County with prompt services
for evaluation of the accused and convicted.
(S) The monies appropriated within the Personnel Department for
employee training shall be utilized to upgrade the professional
and technical skills of county employees, in order that they may
better serve the public and manage the public's resources and
programs.
(T) No personnel positions that become vacant within the County
Road Fund for Road Maintenance and Operations shall be re- filled
until such time as the number of Road Maintenance and Operations
employees drops below sixty -two (62) full -time equivalent employee
(FTE's). Thereafter, the number of FTE's shall not exceed sixty -
two (62).
(U) There shall be created a reserve of six hundred thousand
dollars ($600,000.00) within the Current Expense Fund, to be
entitled "1986 Budget Shortfall Reserve ".
(V) The $12,500 appropriation to non - departmental (Current
Expense Fund) from the Victim /Witness Fund for 'Child Abuse/Child
Sexual Abuse Victims Services' shall be utilized in accordance wit
a program of expenditures approved by the County Council, upon the
advice of the County Executive, who shall consult with agencies an
organizations concerned with child abuse and child sexual abuse.
(W) The Parks Department shall not eliminate the Cultural Arts
Program or the Outdoor Recreation Program, but may modify them if
necessary to cope with reduced funding,. in accordance with a plan.
to be approved by the County Council. $40,000 toward the continu-
ation of these existing programs in 1985 is provided from the Expo
Fund-in recognition of their importance to tourism and related
economic development.
.Ordinance - 4.
If
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(X) The Fire Marshal shall continue to be an employee of the
Bureau of Buildings and Code Administration of the Department of
Public Works until March 1, 1985, and the funding of this position
shall occur by inter = departmental transfer of an amount necessary
to effectuate this provision from the Sheriff's budget. Beginning
March 1, 1985, the Fire Marshal shall be appointed by and be an
employee of the Sheriff.
(Y) The Bureau of Buildings and Code Administration shall provide
by July 15, 1985 a report to the Council and Executive on its
revenue and on progress made toward improving the permit process.
It is further the intent of Whatcom County that any applications
for permits that will create economic development and jobs in
Whatcom County be given priority in processing.
APPROVED this 28th day of November, 1984.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
I ATTEST:
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Carol Ebergso
Clerk of the Council
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
( /) Approved ( ) Vetoed
ALL dam.
Shirley Vah Zant
County Executive
Randall J. Watts, Civil
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney November 30,1984
Date
Published on November 7, 1984 in the Westside Record Journal,
November 8, 1984, in the Bellingham Herald, and on
December 5, 1984.
This Ordinance becomes effective on December 10 1984
Ordinance - 5.