HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Council June 4 1996I WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 SPECIAL COUNCIL WORK SESSION
4 June 4, 1996
5
6 The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m. by Council Chair Ward Nelson in the
7 Courthouse Multi- Purpose Room, Courthouse Basement, 311 Grand Avenue.
8
9 Also Present: Absent:
10 Marlene Dawson None
11 Barbara Brenner
12 Tom Brown
13 Alvin Starkenburg
14 Kathy Sutter
15 Robert Imhof
16
17 1. COUNCIL WORK SESSION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF
18 PRELIMINARY GUIDELINES FOR THE 1997 BUDGET (AB96 -215)
19
20 Bob Woods, Council Budget and Program Analyst, briefly reviewed the budget process
21 and spoke to today's meeting. He noted Administration is actively participating this year in the
22 process.
23
`24 Dave Wareing, Executive's Office, ,commended Bob Woods for his work and assistance.
25 He noted the Council and Executive's Office are able to work together and share information.
26
27 Brad Bennett, Finance, gave an overview and context of the budget. He gave a brief slide
28 presentation of various budgetary/economic graphs. He noted the County is approximately
29 $90,000 per month behind projection, mainly due to legislation that has exempted manufacturing
30 companies from sales tax on their capital expenditures. Those commenting included Bob Woods;
31 John Romaker, Chief Deputy Assessor; Pete Kremen, Executive; and Michael Knapp, Planning.&
32 Development Services.
33
34 Wareing gave out four handouts (on file) on immediate budget direction, budget
35 development guidelines, statements for discussion and consideration, and defining budget
36 preparation parameters. He spoke to the budget deficit, noting that changes must be made.
37 Council discussion then followed. Topics discussed included: property tax levy; other possible
38 revenue sources; charging fees; prioritization; land use; public health and safety; and chain gangs.
39
40 The next area of discussion was cuts, of which the following were suggested: Human
41 Services; Parks Department; regulatory control; internment services; and criminal justice. Those
42 items discussed as potentially privatized included: various aspects of planning and development;
43 consolidation of certain processes; equipment; and maintenance.
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Council members were then asked about their willingness to provide the citizens with the
opportunity to vote their support or disapproval for program, service or funding enhancements.
Also discussed was the County's relationship with the City of Bellingham and various criminal
justice matters. It was decided a plan is necessary before any vote is put before the people. There
was consensus to place an issue on the ballot on a case by case willingness. Discussion followed
on a personnel evaluation program for County employees.
Woods briefly reviewed Wareing's handout regarding budget development guidelines.
Wareing then brought before Council the immediate budget direction handout. Among
the items mentioned were Superior and District Courts. Quarterly supplementals was suggested
as a possible solution to the various supplemental requests. N.F. Jackson, Superior Court
Clerk/Administrator, commented.
On the item of supporting hiring freezes and reductions in budgetary spending authority,
Council was in affirmative agreement. Gambling operations tax relief and expending funds from
the rainy day reserve were also discussed.
Bob Woods commended the Executive's Office for its active participation in the budget
process.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 1 p.m.
FA
These minutes were approved by the Council on August 6 , 1996.
ATTEST:
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Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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L. Ward Nelson, C uncil Chair
Special Work Session, 6/4/96, Page 2