HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget Council work session 2 November 12 20021
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special County Council
PROPOSED 2003 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET
November 12, 2002
The meeting was called to order at 11:57 a.m. by Council Chair L. Ward
Nelson in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
Barbara Brenner None
Laurie Caskey- Schreiber
Sam Crawford
Seth Fleetwood
Dan McShane
Sharon Roy
1. COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND FORMULATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS
RELATED TO THE PROPOSED 2003 WHATCOM COUNTY BUDGET
(AB2002 -362)
Nelson distributed a list of technical corrections to the 2003 proposed
Whatcom County budget.
Planning and Development Services Department
McShane stated the Finance Committee discussed additional services
requests (ASR's) that were not approved, including one for cellular telephone
replacements, purchase of laptop computers and digital cameras, and purchase of
a distance - measuring device. The committee also discussed Planning Commission
space rental fees for using the County Council Chambers. He suggested an
alternative for the County Council to sponsor the meetings. The County Council
cost share for space rental may be increased in the future.
Caskey- Schreiber stated there is a possibility of increasing the real estate
excise tax (REET) by .25 percent to fund the Planning and Development Services
Department. It would generate $1 million more per year. If they spend that
increase on capital projects that would normally be paid from the general fund, the
County could use the increase in the general fund on services to people who pay
the REET.
Brenner stated the County Council appoints the Planning Commissioners.
She asked if sponsoring the Planning Commission meetings would add more cost
to the County Council.
Dewey Desler, Deputy Administrator, stated the primary cost of using this
meeting space after hours is security personnel. That cost is about $12 or $13 per
Special Whatcom County Council - BUDGET, 11/12/2002, Page 1
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
hour. The charge depends on the number of meetings the Planning Commission
holds in the County Council Chambers.
Brenner asked what was paid last year.
Hal Hart, Planning and Development Services Director, stated the Planning
Department is charged $25 per hour.
Sylvia Goodwin, Planning Division Manager, stated the Planning Department
was charged for three or four meetings last year, at about $100 per meeting. She
expects to have more meetings next year because there are some big issues
coming up. She anticipates having 12 meetings here next year.
Brenner stated the councilmembers need to check and see if it is okay to
take $1,200 out of the Council's budget for Planning Commission meetings next
yea r.
Desler stated the Planning Department can acquire the requested cellular
phones, laptops, and cameras in this year's budget.
Roy asked if the space rental fee is a way to distribute the costs of the
facilities to each department. Desler stated that in the Chambers, they want to
protect the integrity of the room and building. When a lot of people are here at
night, they need someone present to protect the room and building. Those
government operations that use the Chambers are charged to use it. If the State
or federal government were to use the building, the cost would not be to a given
department. They use this method to make sure they allocate costs properly.
Brenner stated the County Council Office has a minimal budget. If the
County Council sponsors the Planning Commission meetings, it will come out of the
County Council's existing budget. The councilmembers should check with the Clerk
of the Council about it.
Prosecuting Attorney
Crawford stated felony prosecutions are up. There was discussion in
committee about whether the County gets money from the federal government to
deal with border issues. The Prosecutor has been talking to the senators to get
the money to the county. There is a drug enforcement network in the county. As
money comes to the county for terrorism enforcement, the County is able to use
that drug enforcement framework. The Council can contact Congressman Rick
Larson about it. Councilmember McShane is concerned about the community
impact to the Prosecutor's and Sheriff's tactic to sting the big drug distributors by
allowing small drug transactions to occur downtown over a period of time.
Special Whatcom County Council - BUDGET, 11/12/2002, Page 2
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
Public Defender
Crawford stated the Public Defender's Office budget is flat for 2003. Within
two years, State money may be available for the drug courts. The number of
felonies has increased.
Brenner asked if there is any effort to change the Becca Bill. Desler stated
the County was part of an action with the State, which resulted in the State paying
for the County's full cost of implementing the Becca Bill. The Becca Bill continues
to remain in place as State law. There is no effort to seek changes in the Becca
Bill.
Steve Paus, Juvenile Court Administrator, stated a child could be placed in
detention on a contempt order when he or she does not follow the court order.
The child always has an option to get out of detention by following the judge's
orders.
Brenner stated the Becca Bill is clogging up the system. People shouldn't be
considered criminals and allowed to clog up the system for skipping school.
Nelson asked if the County's have any latitude in implementing the Becca
Bill. Paus stated it does not.
Public Works Department
Crawford stated the Public Works Department budget expenditures are
slightly down. The committee discussed ensuring that auditing is going on in the
Public Works Department because it handles $40 million per year. The committee
also discussed how the County recovers the costs it puts into a road improvement
if a city annexes the area in the future. There is a list of heavy equipment
purchases the department plans to make in the next year.
Brenner stated the James Street and Bakerview Road signalization was a
bad financial outcome for the County and is a lost cause. The Council needs to set
up a committee to restructure the interlocal agreements. The cities have a big
incentive to annex around those intersections. It behooves the County to correct
that loophole.
Caskey- Schreiber asked how it works with State roads.
Dick Prieve, Assistant Director, stated the County participated on the Guide
Meridian work. There was an agreement with the State to do that.
Caskey- Schreiber asked if the County will have problems working with the
State on fixing some of the state roads, since Referendum 51 was defeated.
Prieve stated he's heard that the Guide Meridian is 95 percent funded, regardless
Special Whatcom County Council - BUDGET, 11/12/2002, Page 3
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
of R -51. That is a debate right now. The State is now in active negotiations for
rights -of -way.
Sheriff and Jail
Crawford stated the budget is up a half million dollars. The jail budget is
flat. There has been a nine percent increase in the number of events in the last
year. They have replaced several deputies. The triage center will deal more with
misdemeanants and not felons, who are not qualified for the triage center. The
triage center will not have much impact on the jail.
Brenner stated there is a high percentage of the jail population that is
nonviolent drug users. They should be aware of that.
Crawford asked about the citizen who complained about delayed jail records.
Deane Sandell, Undersheriff, stated it is complex. The records division is
understaffed, but the citizen's problem was not directly related to that. It is a
complex issue on how the Sheriff's Office receives teletypes from other agencies to
check on wanted people. The Sheriff's Office has made a couple of changes to that
procedure.
Crawford asked if fines from traffic infractions only go to fund the court
system or to the Sheriff's Office to help pay for traffic enforcement. Sandell stated
he did not know. He would find out.
Nelson stated fines go directly into the general fund. Sandell stated he
believed that is correct.
Crawford stated the number of traffic infractions in Whatcom County went
up a lot this year for three reasons. He wondered if there is an incentive to
increase the revenue to the Sheriff's Office. Sandell stated it is not a source of
revenue they should count on.
Superior Court and Clerk
Crawford stated the Superior Court budget is only slightly increased. The
committee discussed the number of cases that are dealt with. As the County tax
base erodes, demand for services is not diminished. Cases are frequently bumped
from the docket. The non - criminal community is not getting timely access to
justice. The Department of Corrections refuses to monitor collection of payments
from convicted felons. The Drug Court is phenomenally successful without using
any general fund dollars.
Nelson asked if they are seeing a decrease in domestic violence.
Special Whatcom County Council - BUDGET, 11/12/2002, Page 4
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
McShane stated one unapproved ASR was for a case manager for civil
judgments. Criminal cases are tracked by the Probation Department.
Treasurer's Office
Crawford stated the Treasurer's Office is flat for 2003. The administration
supports the request to move the Treasurer's salary allocation out of the
investment pool. There was a lengthy discussion in committee about the
Treasurer's and Assessor's computer system, which is incompatible and outdated.
This has been an ongoing situation that has not been resolved. In the last few
weeks, there has been discussion in the administration about resolving that
problem. Desler stated the administration is working on a solution. There is no
need to change the budget for this item.
Brenner stated she would like to set aside $100,000 for the Treasurer and
Assessor to resolve their technology problems. The bulk of what the Assessor and
Treasurer uses is not what the Information Services department supports, so their
contribution to the Information Services Division should be reduced.
(Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.)
Brenner stated the administration should not charge the Assessor and
Treasurer more for services than what they use.
Non - Departmental
Brenner asked about the funding for a Veteran's Relief administrator. Desler
stated the arrangements have been rearranged so all veterans groups have access
to proposed assistance that could be provided to needing veterans and their
widows. The administration is asking each veteran group to cover the cost of
processing.
Crawford stated there was discussion in committee about the costs for the
medical examiner. The Executive has until the end of the year to take a hard look
at the contract, which ends at the end of 2002. The administration will allow the
funding authority to maintain the status quo, but will come to the Council with a
recommendation on how to proceed in 2003.
Crawford stated the Executive recommends moving the Economic
Development Council (EDC) funding level from $15,000 to $50,000.
Caskey- Schreiber asked how much the City of Bellingham would contribute.
Desler stated he believes that the City of Bellingham will contribute $50,000. He
will confirm that.
Special Whatcom County Council - BUDGET, 11/12/2002, Page 5
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
Brenner stated the County should not increase funding at this point. There
are a lot of issues that need funding.
Caskey- Schreiber stated the EDC will work on co- housing with the Chamber
of Commerce, which should have been done long ago. It is redundant to sponsor
them both, separately. They should work together. She recently heard that the
EDC Board voted down that proposal. She asked if the Council can make its
funding to the EDC contingent on their co- locating and merging with the Chamber
of Commerce. Desler stated the EDC and Chamber are negotiating on their co-
location. Until they see a contract, there is no guarantee. The County can
condition funding on co- location issues.
Brenner stated another option is to not fund the EDC and force the two to
work together. Give the County time to see if they produce. There are critical
service areas in the County that the Council has to fund.
Brenner asked about an unexplained line item amount. Desler stated the
County provides a number of services for the special districts. The County shares
the cost of administrative services, such as payroll preparation, to all elements of
the County, including the fire districts and other public entities. The County
assigns the cost of those administrative services to this line item. The
administration will work on the formula in 2003.
Nelson asked what happens if a levy fails that would fund a higher level of
ambulance services in 2004. Desler stated the 2004 budget depends on projected
revenues and Council guidelines. He cannot predict the level of service at this
point.
Nelson stated there are two separate processes. He is concerned about how
that might impact the County's funding if a levy goes forward and fails. He asked
the reason for the increase to the Council of Governments. Desler stated there is
a Council of Governments formula that distributes cost to all members.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 1:13 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
These minutes were approved by Council on December 10 , 2002.
Special Whatcom County Council - BUDGET, 11/12/2002, Page 6
DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
1
2 ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
3 WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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7 Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk L. Ward Nelson, Council Chair
Special Whatcom County Council - BUDGET, 11/12/2002, Page 7