Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 14 1991WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL FINANCE AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE November 14, 1991 The meeting was called to order at 9:10 by Committee Chairman Mary Vanderpol in the Council Chambers, 1000 N. Forest Street. Also Present: Absent: Marge Laidlaw None. Bob Imhof BUDGET REVIEW -- WRAP -UP The Finance Committee began to summarize requests made and the Committee's impressions of those requests. The Public Works Department was asked to attend this session to answer the Committee's questions resulting from earlier meetings. Representing Public Works was Brad Bennett, Fiscal Manager; Mary Chisholm, Administrative Services Coordinator; and Marlen Hansen, director of the Maintenance and Operations Division. Bob Woods, Council's Budget and Program Analyst, also was present. Public Works Questions were relayed to the Public Works Department concerning the Capital Facilities Program. There were several projects listed in the 1991 Capital Facilities Program which also appeared on the 1992 Capital Facilities Program. Crack and seal and weatherproof west side of building: Jail staff had seen people working on it; however, this project seemed to appear in the 1992 schedule as well. Chisholm said the project listed in 1991 was completed. Every year the County would like to do another side of the building; the 1992 schedule should say the east side will be done. Forest Street Annex- Finish air conditioning and painting the exterior: Neither project was done. The air conditioning project still could be accomplished this year and will cover the Cooperative Extension offices, Chisholm said, as well as possible ventilating the two lower level bathrooms. Regarding the painting, the bids were submitted and are in the Executive's Office awaiting approval. Health Department - paint and scrape building: This project showed up on both Capital Facilities Programs (for 1991 and 1992). Chisholm said a bid was received but due to the short time left this year she thinks it will need to be carried forward for next year. Chisholm also explained the need for re- keying the department, so it is on one keying system. Jail Showers: Council has been told that this is a two -year program, but it is not indicated as such. Other projects were discussed. Fence and oil tank move: Chisholm said the fencing is being erected now; the road oil tanks will be moved next year. Imhof asked why the tanks need to be moved now that a fence exists. Chisholm said they want to secure the Sheriffs storage building, and Public Works is trying to consolidate maintenance and operations equipment to one location. Finance Committee Budget Review, 11/14/91 Page 1 Woods asked other questions about Equipment Rental and Revolving parking improvements. Removal of service station on Central Avenue: Woods noticed that this project has been carried forward to next year. Chisholm said if Strand Inc. wishes to use that property, and the building, the service station won't be torn down. However, eventually it will need to be removed. Laidlaw asked why removal costs are budgeted this year when it is likely that the building will not be removed; Chisholm said she didn't really know, she was just putting down what Public Works Director Paul Rushing asked her to put down. Jail double - bunking: In 1991 the Capital Facilities Program showed that 91 bunks would be installed; in 1992 a lower number of bunks would be installed at a higher costs. Why was it not pursued, Woods asked, and why has the cost per bunk increased? Chisholm said it was not funded; it shows up on the Capital Facilities Program, but the money was not appropriated by the Executive. Woods went through the Capital Facilities budget and found there was clearly enough money to pay for this. Chisholm said she thinks the Executive is trying to maintain an ending fund balance as required by ordinance. Woods asked if the square footage per cell would prohibit double bunking; Chisholm said she's heard there are no standards determining a minimum square footage. Imhof went back to the jail shower issue; it seems to be a continuing problem that items are budgeted for and not completed in a year, and the project resurfaces the next year. Chisholm said she thinks the projects are being completed more efficiently than they have been in the past; Imhof said it doesn't seem like a very efficient system to have projects pushed forward from year to year with increases in the budget, saying: "If you're going to get it done, put it down' if you're not, don't put it down." Laidlaw said the number one project on the Capital Facilities Program is re -roof the County farm residence; what is that? Chisholm said it is the residence adjacent to Nor -Bell. Chisholm said to Imhof that Public Works should be able to accomplish its goals for 1992. Rock Crushing: Bennett had been asked to return to Finance with some information about the rock crushing operation. He distributed paperwork to Committee members (copy not given to Clerk; may or may not be on file). Vanderpol asked Bennett to walk the Committee through the information. Bennett started with the income statement for 1991, saying it has the profit and loss figures for the segment of Equipment Rental and Revolving that deals with rock crushing. He explained the figures listed. Hansen was asked how many pits are used when crushing gravel, and he explained the system of pit usage. Discussion of this and other issues ensued among Bennett, Imhof and Hansen. Vanderpol asked if there is an advantage to the County making its own crushed rock; Hansen said a great deal of it has to do with the quality of rock produced. Discussion of pit location and crushing operations ensued. Vanderpol talked about the concerns of citizens regarding gravel mining, and asked if the land being used could be reclaimed. Hansen said he thinks so, but that others do not agree with him. Discussion on various related topics ensued. Imhof asked about the costs attributed to Equipment Rental and Revolving staff for gravel mining (roughly $420,000), the equivalent of 10 full time employees. This did not seem appropriate to Imhof because of the minimal amount of gravel produced. Bennett said some years $400,000 is spent on the total program. Imhof pointed out that the figures Finance Committee Budget Review, 11/14/91 Page 2 say the $420,000 is for employees assigned to mining gravel; Bennett said that description was incorrect, that it actually covers all costs. He explained further. Woods asked why the prices were remarkably constant from year to year in the budgeting process. He asked if they actually reflect the costs of providing the services, or if they are based on the general market for the product in the County. An unidentified person in the audience said the costs also reflect other items that are not inventoried. Bennett continued to explain the figures. Discussion took place among Woods, Imhof, Hansen, Vanderpol, Laidlaw and Bennett. Wrap -Up Woods presented a memo to the Committee listing the technical corrections and additional services requests (on file) and went through the items that the Committee may wish to fund from the ending fund balance. He explained the implications of such spending. Revenues and expenditures were addressed. Based on the Executive's track record of estimates for the ending fund balance, and on the latest revenue information, Woods said he felt the revenue estimates were pretty accurate; there is about $280,000 available from Buildings and Codes and property taxes, that should be available for use for additional services requests. Still, Woods and Vanderpol agreed that it is dangerous to rely on the ending fund balance's existence year after year. This information is explained in detail in the memo. A problem that looms on the horizon is the Courthouse, Woods said. If the County starts applying the ending fund balance to the expansion project, that carryover won't be available in years to come. In 1989 there were huge increases in revenue, which is why there was a large ending fund balance that year. However, a lot of the ending fund balance is being created by uncompleted projects, unexpended salary line items. The capital facilities projects were discussed, as well as the fact that these projects are funded by Current Expense. Included in the salary figures for next year is a four percent increase for exempt employees; the Council could, if it desired, cut that increase, Woods said. Discussion ensued among Vanderpol, Laidlaw and Imhof. Finance Committee Recommendations of Nov. 14, 1991: The Committee first reviewed all the additional services requests and the other areas of concern to the Committee. Amid discussion, the following preliminary decisions were made (see the Nov. 15 minutes for final decisions): Elected Officials' salaries: Increase Sheriff, Auditor, Treasurer, Assessor pay to 66 percent of the Prosecutor's salary (which is set by the State). Court Commissioners: A full commissioner will be paid at 80 percent of a District Court Judge salary; a half -time District Court Commissioner will make $35,107. Jury Salaries: No action taken. District Court Judge: Request the Executive to draft an ordinance to put off the hiring of a District Court Judge for one year. The ordinance will be introduced at the 11/26 meeting. Noxious Weed: Increase by $6,000 Finance Committee Budget Review, 11/14/91 Page 3 Technical Corrections: There will be a net reduction of $10,654 Adult Probation: No action taken. Public Defender Human Resources Person: No action taken. Public Defender computer: No action taken. Auditor account clerk: No action taken. Auditor election reserve clerk: No action taken. Assessor property control analyst: Combined Treatment: Exclude detox; Lake Whatcom $7,000; NW Youth Services $2,250; Sun Community $2,300; Whatcom Counseling and Psychiatric $6,000; Professional Service Child Abuse, $3,400; Sea -Mar $4,400. Council: No furniture for analyst; republication of the Code okay, but the Clerk is directed to look into the possibility of billing other funds for this; approved by the Committee were the LAN, modem, 40 -hour week for receptionist, and the BOE pay increase. Juvenile Probation: No action taken. Conservation District: No additional funding will be provided. Brigid Collins: No additional funding will be provided. Womencare Shelter: The amount of $3,000 will be added. Humane Society: No additional funding will be provided. Superior Court Barcode tracking software: The Committee decided to fund this item. Buildings and Code: Line 524.20.41, professional services, to be cut by $17,000; the miscellaneous account to be reduced from $100,000 to $25,000. Public Works Administration: Delete the provision for salary increase throughout Public Works budget (11.9900); reduce professional services, 519.17.41, by $10,000, leaving $20,000; The Committee would like to not authorize the implied reclassification for the Administrative Services Manager, and include a budget proviso asking the Executive to look into the feasibility of combining the responsibilities of this position into other areas; the accountant position (additional service approved by the Executive) will be deleted (reduction of $35,728); Brad Bennett's recommended reductions accepted; technical correction for the solid waste division added $16,000. Maintenance and Operations: Delete funding for two pup trailers, $46,000; budget proviso to set up a committee to look at the road department's responsibilities, as was done nine years ago. Executive's Office: Capital Facilities, Water Resources Positions; appropriate the $100,000 requested; however, include a budget proviso that the money will not be spent without prior Council approval of a work plan and program for water resources, capital facilities and natural heritage task force plan; reclassifications for staff, committee asked that it receive a copy of the justification for the reclassifications which was submitted to Personnel, as well as Personnel's recommendation, for the reclassifications within the Executive's Office. Equipment Rental & Revolving: The Committee discussed the $100,000 in the miscellaneous for Building Maintenance or Equipment Rental and Revolving; after discussion between Imhof and Laidlaw, the balance was changed from $100,000 to $25,000. Finance Committee Budget Review, 11/14/91 Page 4 Miscellaneous: General discussion took place of the following: Technical correction to the solid waste management fund, EPA landfill permits, $16,000 -- the Committee felt this should be approved; Visitor and Convention asked for $5,700 to come out of the Visitor and Convention Fund; two pup trailers; County Executive's budget, salaries and reclassifications. There was extensive discussion on the reclassifications within that department, and the possibility of curtailing funding for some of them. Prior to taking such action, however, the Committee decided to seek documentation from the Personnel Department regarding the appropriateness of such increases. There was discussion of miscellaneous other items. The meeting was adjourned at 1:25 p.m. ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON / ze Ramona Reeves, Council Clerk arvin G. Vanderpo1, Member Finance Committee Budget Review, 11/14/91 Page 5