HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 11 19951 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Finance and Administrative Services Committee
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4 November 11, 1995
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6 The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m, by Committee Chair Alvin
7 Starkenburg in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue.
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9 Also Present: Absent:
10 Marlene Dawson None
11 Ward Nelson
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13 Other Council Members Present:
14 Robert Imhof
15 Larry Harris
16 Ken Henderson
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18 Starkenburg gave information on how the meeting would be conducted. He also
19 made some general statements on how this year's budget season has gone. He thanked
20 the Executive for her help on this year's budget preparation.
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22 Budget and Program Analyst Bob Woods gave some information on this year's
23 overall numbers and how they compare to past years. Woods discussed highlights of a
24 packet of information he prepared for Committee members. Topics discussed included:
25 Current Expense ending fund balances; fund balance as a percentage of revenue; FTE
26 (full-time employee) position cuts for 1996; the effects of the courthouse construction on
27 the ending fund balance; the use of savings to pay bills; the need for a savings account;
28 restrictions on expenditure; reserve funds as a contribution to the cost of the courthouse
29 construction project; use of reserves to fund position increases primarily in the Criminal
30 Justice and Health operations; the flattening of the rate of revenue growth; the
31 continuing decrease in lapsed appropriations carrying forward to help replenish fund
32 balances; the 1996 picture; projected appropriations less than projected revenues; re-
33 establishment of an adequate level of reserves over the next several years; the
34 advantages of re- establishing significant reserves; having cash available to deal with
35 emergencies; one -time capital needs; unforeseen revenue shortfalls; strengthening the
36 fiscal position of the County on the issuance of bonds; securing more favorable interest
37 rates; and reducing the need for short-term loans for cash flow purposes, thereby
38 reducing costs.
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40 The Committee will recommend to the full Council that the reserve fund be set at
41 2% of the ending fund balance. Bob Woods will draft an ordinance to that effect.
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Budget Minutes, 11/11/95, Page 1
1 The Committee will recommend that the following changes be made to the
2 Executive's proposed 1996 budget (all resulting in a reduction to the Current Expense
3 ending fund balance in the proposed budget):
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5 Reduce Council Revenue $ 7,416-
6 Medic I Contract $76,594-
7 Council of Governments $ 561-
8 Whatcom Volunteer Center $ 1,000-
9 District Crt. Prob. Contract /Positions $102,669-
10 Lake Whatcom (1995 amount) $ 31,291-
11 Sheriff Deputy $ 40,000-
12 Nooksack Steering $ 25,000-
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14 The Committee discussed the following changes to the Executive's proposed 1996
15 budget (all resulting in an increase to the Current Expense ending fund balance in the
16 proposed budget):
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18 In -Lieu Timber Receipts $400,000+
19 District Crt. Prob. Contract /Positions $114,077+
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21 The Committee will make a recommendation to the full Council that a resolution
22 be drafted addressing a "wish list" of items to be looked at if funds are available in the
23 ending fund balance.
24
25 A comment regarding the proposed 1996 Unified Fee Schedule and the increase
26 in some of the fees charged by the Planning and Development Services Department was
27 made by Pat Allissy (sp ?), Birch Bay.
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29 The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program was discussed. Topics
30 discussed included: appropriations; space rental costs; actual costs of the 1995 program
31 and those numbers falling below those appropriated; the Opportunity Council
32 withdrawing from the running to administer the Program, thereby limiting the options;
33 leaving the program in the Health Department; a possible increase to revenues of
34 $20,000 to $30,000; running the program with less FTE's; total appropriations for running
35 the program (approximately $346,585); cutting other programs within the Health
36 Department to cover the needed funding for running the Program (no funding was
37 proposed in the proposed 1996 budget); proposed income collected by the Program for
38 1996 is projected at $200,000, leaving the County's subsidy at approximately $146,585;
39 cutting Dr. James' hours /salary; and contracting out and the implications of doing so.
40 This item is being held until further information is available. No recommendation is
41 being forwarded for Tuesday night's Council meeting.
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43 (Clerk's Note. The Committee broke for lunch and reconvened the meeting at
44 1 P.m.)
Budget Minutes, 11/11/95, Page 2
1 N.F. Jackson, Superior Court Administrator /Clerk, asked that the Committee look
2 at amending the salary resolution to include the Court Commissioners at 85 % of the
3 Superior Court judges salaries. This adjustment would give the Commissioners a 3%
4 increase for 1996, an increase which would address the fact that the Commissioners have
5 not received a pay increase since 1993, while other County employees have received up
6 to a 3% increase per year during those years.
7
8 Administrative Services Department Finance Director Brad Bennett answered
9 questions regarding the ending fund balance.
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11 The Nooksack Steering Committee was discussed. Their budget request was
12 reduced by three quarters. The new $25,000 amount will be forwarded to the full
13 Council as a recommendation for approval. Nate Brown, Planning and Development
14 Services Director, answered a question from the Committee on this item.
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16 The possibility of a request for some funding by the Shellfish Protection District
17 was discussed. Numbers will be submitted at a later time. The District has been advised
18 not to ask for a certain dollar amount until a program has been established. The district
19 is concerned with the issue of a "show of support" from the Council for the work they
20 will be doing.
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22 Woods stated that the administration is putting together technical corrections to
23 be forwarded to the Council.
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25 Closing comments were made by the Committee members and other Council
26 members present._
27
28 There was discussion of the request for $40,000 to fund a Sheriff Deputy position.
29 Whatcom County Sheriff Dale Brandland stated that it costs at least $58,000 to put a
30 deputy on the road each year.
31
32 Starkenburg noted he appreciated the attitudes of all the departments this year.
33 He also stated that the Criminal Justice Working Group will be reviewing the Juvenile
34 Department reorganization in the coming year. He assured those present that the
35 matters discussed today would be considered seriously.
36
37 Nelson echoed Starkenburg's assessment of the departments' coming forward. He
38 noted the difficulty of the task and stated the revenues unfortunately are not present.
39 Nelson stated the Committee needs to decide ways of providing the best service at the
40 lowest practical cost. He extended his appreciation to all department heads who came
4.1 forward to make their presentations.
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Budget Minutes, 11/11/95, Page 3
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Bob Woods thanked N.F. Jackson for loaning out his equipment. He then spoke
about process, procedure, and some of the remaining steps. He will prepare an
ordinance to deal with the final closure of some funds (housekeeping) and have the
information available to the Council members so they can deal with those funds
concurrently with the adoption of the 1996 budget. Woods will transcribe the
recommendations of today's meeting into an official memo from the Finance and
Administrative Services Committee to the Council. The memo will be placed on next
week's agenda for the Committee's review.
On November 21, the full Council will hold a public hearing on the budget. The
Finance and Administrative Services Committee's recommendations will be included in
the packet in order for the public to review and comment. November 28 will be the
final night for the adoption of the budget. The Council has technically until December
to approve the final budget. Woods will script out the anticipated motions (as was done
last year) for the November 28 meeting and encouraged members to notify him of any
other motions. This will ensure use of the proper language. He also made himself
available to assist any Council members, as well as any newly - elected official.
Starkenburg noted his preference for final budget approval on November 28 after
all comments have been presented.
Henderson stated he too preferred all information and comments on
November 21 to allow sufficient time for review.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 2:30 p.m.
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ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Alvin Starkenburg, Council
Budget Minutes, 11/11/95, Page 4