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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 6 1993WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE BUDGET HEARINGS November 6, 1993 The meeting was called to order at 10:20 a.m. by Committee Chair Ken Henderson. Also Present: Bob Imhof Absent: Dennis Vander Yacht Others present were: Council Members Marge Laidlaw; Larry Harris, Barbara Brenner, newly - elected Council Members, Ward Nelson, Marlene Dawson, and Alvin Starkenburg. Tom Sutberry, Deputy Administrator, Executive Office, reported on the technical corrections being brought forward. There was discussion on FTE differences between Henderson and Sutberry. Bob Woods, Budget and Program Analyst, gave an overview of the plan. Comments were made on the following: Public Works Administrative Building; PFI Lottie Street as parking & PFI08 removal of old gas station changed from ER &R to current expense of about $90,000; $310,000 being transferred from current expense from last year; one -year road plan; six -year road plan; change in philosophy in Administrative Services from ER &R; whether funds could be transferred back into the general fund; changes that have come about because of reorganization; whether ER &R has the ability to become a county -wide accumulation fund; whether ER &R should be required to demolish the gas station and write it off the books; carryover projects; suggestion of memo to Monsen to answer questions about costs of projects; taxes being raised according to the cost -of- living; consumer price index; actual cost of government; ten percent increase in the cost . of paper expected in 1994; net change in general fund. Speakers: Henderson; Sutberry; Woods; Brenner; Laidlaw; Nelson. Treasurer HENDERSON MOVED TO RESTORE $35,000 TO THE TREASURER'S FUND. There was a 1 -1 vote with Imhof against. Budget Hearings, November 6, 1993, Page 1 Auditor HENDERSON MOVED TO SHIFT THE AUDITOR STAFF MEMBER TO THE INTERNAL AUDIT POSITION WITH NO NET CHANGE IN FUNDING. The motion passed 2 -0. Council Office IMHOF MOVED TO ADD $27,500 TO RESTORE SALARIES, TRAVEL, POSTAGE AND MISCELLANEOUS IN THE COUNCIL BUDGET. The motion carried 2 -0. Laidlaw spoke against any departments padding budgets. Board of Equalization HENDERSON MOVED TO ADD $6,000 INTO THE EXTRA HELP BUDGET IN CONSIDERATION OF THE EXTRA WORKLOAD BEING IMPOSED BY INCREASED PETITIONS. Imhof spoke against the $6,000 addition and suggested the addition could be requested later if needed. Henderson withdrew the motion. Sheriff Woods mentioned there would be a carry-over in the drug fund because there are federal cases being sent to Whatcom County. He said the Council could increase projected revenue balances but probably not the expenses. HENDERSON MOVED TO FUND ONE DRUG SARGENT FROM THE DRUG FUND. The motion carried 2 -0. HENDERSON MOVED TO ADD ONE TRAFFIC DEPUTY FROM THE ROAD FUND. Imhof spoke against adding deputies because of the overload on the court system. Budget Hearings, November 6, 1993, Page 2 Brenner asked Woods about ending fund balance in road fund; he said over $2 million. Nelson asked if the State Patrol is providing less coverage; it was thought there would be less activity by the State Patrol. It was noted that traffic officers generate revenue. One officer would cost $80,000 initially. There was a 1 -1 split vote with Imhof against. HENDERSON MOVED TO COVER ONE JAIL DEPUTIES WITH $40,000 FROM THE ROAD FUND. The motion carried 2 -0. HENDERSON MOVED TO PAY THE TWO DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE EDUCATION (DARE) DEPUTIES FROM THE DRUG FUND INSTEAD OF THE DISCRETIONARY FUND ($77,500). Woods mentioned DARE officers are no longer getting Mount Baker School District support. The motion carried 2 -0. HENDERSON MOVED TO APPOINT AN APPELLANT ATTORNEY FOR THE PROSECUTOR. Woods stated that $25,000 would come from the Department of Agriculture. Henderson said if money runs out it would have to renegotiated. The motion carried 2 -0. Assessor Henderson spoke about analyzing physical assessment by computer at an approximate cost of $150,000. This would be a different style than is currently being used and may require additional staff. This project would need a technical person to install the system and a clerk to do data input. Woods said it would cost approximately $35,000 to $40,000 for a technical person. It was decided to obtain more information from the Assessor, particularly with a plan tied to a dollar amount. It was estimated that the new plan could add an additional $68,000 to the discretionary fund. 5 minute break at 11:20 a.m. Woods said $177,000 had been added to the fund with the recommendations made to this point. Budget Hearings, November 6, 1993, Page 3 Hearing Examiner HENDERSON MOVED TO RESTORE $6,000 TO THE HEARING EXAMINER' BUDGET. Henderson said there would still be a $1,000 cut in the total budget over last year. The motion carried 2 -0. Weed Board RSVP HENDERSON MOVED TO ADD $500 INTO THE WEED BOARD This motion was carried 2 -0. HENDERSON MOVED TO ADD $2000 INTO THE RSVP FUND. There was a 1 -1 split vote with Imhof against. District Court future. HENDERSON MOVED TO ADD $20,000 FOR A FILING SYSTEM. There was discussion on whether there will be an optical scanning system in the The motion failed 0 -2. More information will be sought. District f Superior Court Centralized jury system suggested for both courts. Sutberry said the criminal justice system was not decreased or increased. IMHOF MOVED TO APPROVE A COURT ADMINISTRATOR The motion failed 0 -2. Property Tax HENDERSON MOVED TO RAISE THE COUNTY'S INCOME FROM TAXES BY 4.2 PERCENT THIS YEAR RATHER THAN THE SIX PERCENT ALLOWED BY LAW. Budget Hearings, November 6,1993, Page 4 This motion carried 2 -0. Juvenile HENDERSON MOVED TO ADJUST REVENUE FIGURE UPWARD TO INCLUDE EXTRA OUT OF COUNTY BED RENT OF $529000. The motion carried 2 -0 Solid Waste Fund Equity Woods said we need to investigate ownership of funds to recapture equity. Administrative Service Sutberry said the amount requested for overtime and extra help is $27,000; that is what was spent in the previous departments. He said this will be a 55 person department and it has already proposed the elimination of two department heads. HENDERSON MOVED TO REDUCE EXTRA HELP BY $10,000. The motion failed 0 -2. Courthouse Construction HENDERSON MOVED TO CANCEL TRANSFER TO COURTHOUSE RENOVATION FUND. The motion carried 2 -0. Physical Plant HENDERSON MOVED TO CANCEL TRANSFER OF $310,000 TO THE PHYSICAL PLANT. The motion carried 2 -0. Sutberry said he will do an analysis of this item prior to the budget approval. Reduce Labor Negotiator to $5,000 Sutberry said the County is currently under contract with a firm through 1996 at an annual cost of approximately $28,000. He said it may be worth investigating doing it Budget Hearings, November 6, 1993, Page 5 ourselves in the future but with the corrections officers contract under binding arbitration this year, the outside negotiator will be invaluable. $5000. HENDERSON MOVED TO REDUCE THE LABOR NEGOTIATOR TO The motion failed 0 -2. Executive Administrative Services - Reduce Director & Fiscal Manager by $14,000. Sutberry said he would have to take time without pay if this goes through. He stated the County needs to have a salary study to look at the exempt salaries every ten years and we have not had one since the early 80s. Reduce Program Analyst Reclass by $1,581. Henderson asked if the Council had the authority to determine how many positions exist; Sutberry said the Council does have the authority. Eliminate Senior Secretary & Benefits. Laidlaw said she thought it was unfair that everyone is being asked to cut and this office is requesting a new position. No motions were made on the Executive issues. Woods noted that the net increases as a result of today's recommendations would be $763,500. Other Changes HENDERSON MOVED TO REDUCE THE AUDITOR O &M FUND BALANCE AND INCREASE THE FUND BALANCE BY $61,052. The motion carried 2 -0. IMHOF MOVED TO REDUCE BUILDING MAINTENANCE COSTS BY 2 PERCENT ($30,916 REBATE TO DEPARTMENTS THROUGH REDUCED CHARGE). There was a 1 -1 split vote with Imhof against. Budget Hearings, November 6, 1993, Page 6 HENDERSON MOVED TO FUND THE DIRECTOR IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES FOR HALF A YEAR. The motion carried 2 -0. HENDERSON MOVED TO INCREASE BY 1/2% THE GAS TAX TRANSFER TO PATHS AND TRAILS, AND THEREFORE TRANSFER $14,000 FROM THE ROAD FUND TO PATHS AND TRAILS. The motion carried 2 -0. HENDERSON MOVED TO REDUCE THE HOTEL /MOTEL FUND BY $5,000. Laidlaw asked why the appropriation is being doubled this year when last year's amount was not used. The motion carried 2 -0. IMHOF MOVED TO FUND THE SOLID WASTE MANAGER FOR A QUARTER OF THE YEAR. The motion carried 2 -0. Laidlaw explained the following issue. IMHOF MOVED TO REDUCE BY $166,000 THE LAKEWAY COMPOST SITE /SOLID WASTE The motion carried 2 -0. Road Fund Imhof said Diking District I has been providing services and receiving $25,000 to $30,000 from the County. This year the funds have been held up and Imhof is requesting that this assessment be included in the budget so that it is not held up in the future. The Diking District protects county roads and Imhof stated. this is a service to the County. The people in the area self assess themselves in the amount of $40,000 but need the additional $25,000 to do the necessary projects on the roads. Woods said Ken Henderson has worked very hard to make this a smooth process. It was agreed that the budget came over from the Executive office in a better format. Brenner asked for individual employees salaries to be listed another year. Budget Hearings, November 6, 1993, Page 7 Ward Nelson asked if consideration of Bellingham's payment on the court case regarding reimbursement for the use of county jail facilities had been included; it was noted that a portion had been included. Sutberry said an ordinance regarding property taxes is before the Council and any changes decided upon could be made to that ordinance. The meeting was adjourned at 1:42 p.m. ATTEST: ar ' ara a er, De puty er WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Budget Hearings, November 6, 1993, Page 8 Chair